The Nanook swim team finished its last home games until January this weekend with losses to Biola University.

Alaska narrowly lost 93-109 on Friday and 83-118 on Saturday to the Eagles at the Patty Center pool.

But coach Scott Lemley said the goal wasn't to necessarily win but to make qualifying times for conference.

"They did great," he said.

Biola coach Eddie Shepard said his swimmers "did very well for their first week."

It's mostly the difference in program maturity that explains why the Nanooks lost, he said.

"They're just a young team," Sheppard said. "It takes a while to build."

Alaska won five of 11 events on Friday.

Jacqueline van Driessche posted a 2:32.50 time in the 200 backstroke, breaking a 2:38.37 record by Joann Kump set last season. Her nearest competition in the 200 was Megan DeForest, who trailed by 13 seconds.

The Nanooks also took the top three spots in the 1,650 freestyle.

Senior Miriah Phelps posted a personal best in the 100 free with 1:02, finishing third.

Saturday's meet kicked off as the 12 girls competing and on the bench circled up for a cheer song.

"You got to be rough, you got to be tough," they chanted.

That energy put the Nanooks in ready mood to compete. They won four of 11 events.

Sam Zinsli took first in the 1,000-yard freestyle, clocking in at 11:07.89 in the 40-lap swim.

She later outpaced the competition again, with a 5:30.38 time in the 500-yard freestyle.

Caught after the game in mid-shampoo, Zinsli said she could have done better.

"I placed well, but my times weren't great," she said. "All of us were tired."

Lemley said he was impressed by Hilary Carlisle, who last week was sick and didn't swim at her best.

She took second in the 100-yard butterfly with 1:03.99 and second in the 100 backstroke at 1:06.67.

"For me, the beginning of the season is very hard, because if I don't make my times, I can be a little hard on myself," Carlisle said.

Van Driessche placed first in the 200-yard individual medley at 2:17.39.

She also took second in the 100-yard breaststroke with 1:09.94.

Team captain Rebecca George also had a good afternoon, with a 12:16.52 in the 1,000-yard freestyle and 6:02.82 in the 500-yard freestyle. She placed second and fifth in the events, respectively.

"I dropped time in almost every event," George said. "It was fun."

Thanks to a transition week in the Nanooks' practice schedule, the team took it easy last week. But swimmers say this week's practices and those for the rest of the season will be much tougher than they've experience this season.

"We're going to get our rear ends kicked, and that's how it'll be until November," George said. "But it's good for us."