Bowling Green State University
Central Michigan University
Falcons Hit 194.5 Mark in Loss to CMU
March 02, 2013 | Gymnastics
Mount Pleasant, Mich. - The Bowling Green State University gymnastics team competed well on Saturday, nearly posting a season high in a loss to Central Michigan, 196.025-194.500.
The Falcons were led by career-best all-around performances from Megan Harrington (39.025) and Jamilah Ali (39.0), who finished second and third behind CMU's Brittany Petzold (39.400).
Bowling Green began the meet on uneven bars with a steady 48.375. Alyssa Nocella and Caroline Ellingboe led the way with scores of 9.775 - a career-best mark for Nocella. Harrington (9.7), Gina Locigno (9.6) and Ali (9.525) rounded out the lineup with solid routines.
Locigno then ignited the vault lineup, landing a brand new vault (Yurchenko layout half) and scoring a career-best 9.75 as the first performer. From there, the Falcons counted a 9.75 from Nocella, 9.775 from Sunny Marchand, 9.75 from Amanda Lievendag and 9.825 from Ali.
A score of 97.225 at the halfway point put the Falcons a little more than a point behind the Chippewas, who started hot with a 98.425 total on vault and bars.
The Falcons took advantage of CMU counting a fall on beam, hitting a 49.0 on floor exercise - the team's third-straight score above 49 on the event. Nocella posted the high score of 9.85 to tie for first place, while Ellingboe (9.75), Ali (9.775), Locigno (9.8) and Harrington (9.825) hit to lessen the lead held by CMU.
Ending on balance beam, the Falcons ran into trouble with Maria Salvia and Nocella falling from the apparatus. Ellingboe led off with a 9.625, and Locigno (9.775), Harrington (9.8) and Ali (9.875) were spot-on to lead the Falcons to a 48.275 on the most precarious event.
The Chippewas came through on floor with a 49.150, breaking 196 for the first time this season to earn the win. While the Falcons suffered a loss, a second-straight score above 194.500 will improve the team's regional qualifying score heading into the final stretch of the regular season.
The Falcons stay on the road next weekend, facing No. 21 Kentucky on Friday. The team then returns to Anderson Arena on March 16 for its final home meet against Western Michigan, before heading to the Mid-American Conference Championships.
