Bowling Green State University
Eastern Michigan
Falcons Remain Unbeaten In MAC With Win Over EMU
January 25, 2014 | Gymnastics
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Bowling Green, Ohio – The Bowling Green State University gymnastics team had its best performance of the 2014 season, posting a 194.600 to defeat Eastern Michigan and improve to 2-0 in Mid-American Conference action. The Eagles scored 192.525 in a losing effort.
Sophomore Alyssa Nocella notched her name in the BGSU record book with a career-best all-around score of 39.150. Only two other Bowling Green gymnasts, Marny Oestreng and Melissa Popovich, have ever scored a higher all-around total. Nocella scored 9.725 on the uneven bars, 9.775 on the vault, 9.800 on balance beam and 9.850 with a dynamic performance on the floor exercise.
But the Falcons were more than just a one-woman show. Freshman Lauren Feely had her best all-around score in her short collegiate career with a 38.750, winning the vault with a 9.825. Another freshman, Rachel Reis, had the top uneven bars score on the afternoon with a 9.750. And senior Megan Harrington bounced back from a stumble on the vault in the opening rotation to tie Nocella on the beam with a 9.800 and win the floor with a 9.875.
Bowling Green outscored Eastern Michigan on all four apparatuses and seemed to get stronger as the meet wore on. After leading by almost a full point after two rotations, the Falcons scored a 48.750 on the balance beam, the highest score on the event in the tenure of seventh-year head coach Kerrie Turner. All six Falcons scored at least a 9.600 with Harrington and Nocella matching scores of 9.800.
But it got even better on the floor as the Falcons scored a 48.925 to round out the meet. Five Falcons scored at least 9.700 with Harrington leading the way at 9.875 and Nocella following at 9.850.
The 194.600 represents the second-highest team score in a meet for the Falcons since 2005. In fact, 21 of the 24 scores on the day were at least a 9.600.
Eastern Michigan falls to 0-4 on the season and 0-2 in conference action. Bowling Green wins its second consecutive meet to improve to 2-2 overall and 2-0 in league meets. The Falcons will look to get to 3-0 in the MAC when they compete at Ball State Friday at 7 p.m.
