FAIRBANKS, AK - The Loyola Marymount University Lions Women's Swimming team traveled up to Fairbanks, Alaska to face -15 degree temperatures to compete against the University of Alaska, Fairbanks in dual meet competitions on Friday and Saturday. The Lions walked away with victories on both days besting the Nanooks on Friday 118 to 84 and on Saturday 111 to 93.
 
The Lions were led by sophomore Abby Shaw who won two individual races each day while adding four additional wins as part of LMU's Medley and Freestyle relays, for a total of eight victories for the sophomore over the two days of competition. Sophomore Heidi Ly and freshman Ashley Leaman each added two individual wins along with the four relay victories, while junior Kelli Andrade added another two wins in the 100 and 200 breaststroke events.
 
Friday Highlights
The Lions opened the first day of competition with a half pool victory over the Nanook team in the 400 medley relay with its youthful quartet of Ly, Andrade, Leaman and Shaw timed in 4:04.04 to the Nanook's 4:14.10. In the 1650 freestyle that followed, LMU picked up second and third place from Anna Doherty and Ryann Dorris and another second-third combo from Lily Gallagher and Caitlin Basulto in the 200 freestyle that followed. Shaw's first win came in the 50 freestyle where she touch in a half of second in front of two Nanooks with a 25.11.
 
Leaman scored her first victory in the 200 IM in a close race with teammate Ly. 2:14.4 to 2:15.1, with freshman Natalie Hogenboom adding a forth place finish. Shaw then returned for her second individual win on the day in the 100 butterfly touching ahead of three Nanooks. Ly added her first individual victory in the 100 freestyle with Basulto making it a one-two Lion finish in the runner-up spot. Leaman returned to the blocks in the 100 backstroke for her second victory of the day in 1:02.1 followed closely by teammate Sarah Lu in second place. Gallagher and Hogenboom added points for the Lions placing second and third in the 500 freestyle that followed.  Andrade scored her first individual win by a three second margin in the 100 breaststroke before LMU's 400 freestyle relay quartet of Leaman, Ly, Gallagher and Shaw wrapped the meet with another relay victory securing the Lion team victory of 118 to 84
 
Saturday Highlights
Saturday's competition began with another relay win by Ly, Andrade, Shaw, and Leaman who again teamed up for the shorter version of the medley relay. In the 1000 freestyle that follow, Gallagher picked up third place in a tough battle with two Nanooks while Holly Prince added fourth place points. Hogenboon captured first place for the Lions in the 200 freestyle with teammates Dorris and Doherty in third and fourth. Shaw returned to the blocks to repeat her victory in the 50 free from the previous day, with Ly taking third. Leaman added third place points in the 400 IM while Hogenboom placed second in the 200 butterfly with Lydia Zicker adding fourth place points in the event.
 
Shaw returned in the second half of the competition to secure another first place victory in the 100 freestyle slightly touching before Leaman for a one-two Lion finish. Ly and Lu combined for another one-two finish in the 100 backstroke and Andrade secured another win in the 200 breaststroke. In the final event of the competition, the Lion quartet of Shaw, Ly, Lu and Leaman battled the Nanooks from start to finish in the 200 freestyle relay with the Lions earning the win to secure a 111 to 93 Lion victory.
 
The Lions will have one last home meet against Azusa Pacific on Saturday where it will honor its three seniors, Sabine Caplin, Colby Mallett and Lydia Zicker, before heading to the PCSC Championships in St. George, Utah February 16-19.