Bowling Green State University
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Western Michigan
BGSU Beats Defending Champs In MAC Opener
January 17, 2014 | Gymnastics
Complete Results (.pdf)
Kalamazoo, Mich. – Bowling Green sophomore Alyssa Nocella won the vault and the all-around as the BGSU Gymnastics team opened Mid-American Conference play by defeating defending MAC Championship winner Western Michigan 192.825-191.450 Friday night.
"I am so pleased that our team achieved our first MAC win of the season," BGSU Gymnastics Coach Kerrie Turner said. "It's a great accomplishment, especially on the road. They really rallied together and showed excellent improvement, especially on balance beam. This is the start of many steps we will be taking towards improvement in our routines and our scores."
In the season opener a week ago, BGSU struggled on balance beam to open the meet against a pair of top 20 opponents. Despite recovering from the early difficulties, the Falcons were not able to overcome the slow start. But Friday night, the Falcons were solid throughout and finished the meet with a 48.075 on balance beam, more than two full points better than a week ago.
Bowling Green opened the meet with a 47.650 on the bars, an identical score to Western Michigan's first rotation on vault. The Falcons began to pull away during the second rotation though.
BGSU's best rotation was the second as the Falcons scored 48.650 on vault with all six scores of 9.600 or better. Western Michigan was solid on bars but a 47.975 put the Broncos behind.
The Falcons extended the lead during the third rotation, scoring a full point better on floor than WMU on balance beam. As the two teams traded apparatuses, BGSU had a comfortable lead but needed to put last week's beam effort behind. The Falcons did just that, posting five scores of at least 9.500 to win the meet.
Nocella's 38.850 all-around score was the best of the evening, edging out teammates Megan Harrington (38.700), Lauren Feely (38.625) and Gina Locigno (38.450). WMU's only all-around qualifier, Kayla Weber, scored a 37.750.
Nocella also won the vault with a score of 9.775. Western Michigan had the individual winner on the other three apparatuses, but the Falcons were the deeper team throughout the night.
With the win, BGSU improves to 1-2 on the season and 1-0 in MAC play. The Falcons opened league action with a win for the first time since 2010. Bowling Green will hold its home opener Saturday looking to go 2-0 in MAC action against Eastern Michigan. The meet starts at 4 p.m. in venerable Anderson Arena.
