The women's swimming team has begun its taper, a period of decreased workout time to increase overall speed in races. Although its morning workout will still be one hour, the afternoon workout has been decreased from two hours to 90 minutes.

"It's easier because it's less time," Heather Nicholson said. "But it's harder because it's more quality."

The Lady Lions will test their rested bodies and a 10-2 record against the University of Maryland-Baltimore County at 1 tomorrow afternoon in Baltimore.

In practices, Coach Bob Krimmel has been emphasizing the basics, and he will move his swimmers around in the meet to ensure they have the experience they need for the Eastern Championships, Feb. 22 in Pittsburgh.

"It's a different-look lineup," Krimmel said. "We want to give people the chance to swim in some different events and we want to take a look at people who haven't been swimming their events consistently."

"We're secure enough in the meet that we can switch some events around," co-captain Kathleen Dick said.

Krimmel said about half the team will swim its regular events and the other half will swim in different events.

Jennifer Wilson, a butterflier, will be swimming in backstroke events and Dick will switch from breaststroke to butterfly. Tracey Sheleheda and Jane Kleiderlein, freestyle sprinters, will be swimming in the 200-yard freestyle, a mid-distance event.

"We want people to keep their intensity up," Krimmel said, "even though they're swimming different events."

This meet will be the first time the team has left McCoy Natatorium in a month. They have just completed a grueling January schedule of four meets in a row and came out with a 3-1 record. The whole team will travel to Baltimore, the last time the team "It's important for us to get used to swimming in other pools," Krimmel said. "We've got to make the adjustments."