Bowling Green State University
Central Michigan
Falcons Post Best Score In Nine Years Against No. 19 Central Michigan
February 09, 2014 | Gymnastics
Full Results (.pdf)
Bowling Green, Ohio – The Bowling Green State University gymnastics team scored a 195.550, its best team score in nine years, but it was not enough for the Falcons to upset No. 19 Central Michigan Sunday. The Chippewas scored 196.500 to hand BGSU its first loss in conference action this year.
Despite the loss, Bowling Green continued to make strides, breaking 194.000 for the fourth consecutive meet, a feat the program has not done since 2004. The 195.500 is the best in the seven-year tenure of head coach Kerrie Turner, who was named MAC Coach of the Year in 2013.
The Falcons broke 49.000 in three of the four rotations during its annual Pink Meet, scoring season bests on the vault, balance beam and floor exercise. The only area where the team struggled came on the uneven bars, which has been an area of difficulty for the team for much of the year. Most of the scoring difference in the meet came on that apparatus, where Central Michigan posted a 49.050 to Bowling Green's 48.300.
On the balance beam, Bowling Green scored 49.050 to edge Central Michigan at 49.000. Gina Locigno led the way with a 9.875 and the team recorded three scores of 9.825 or better.
The Falcons opened on the vault and took the lead after the first apparatus with a 49.125, compared to Central Michigan's 49.050 on bars. Amanda Lievendag and Lauren Feely were two of the five gymnasts to record a meet-high 9.875.
BGSU closed out the meet with a strong floor routine, scoring 49.075. Locigno and Alyssa Nocella tied for team-high honors with a 9.850.
Locigno scored a career-best 39.175 in the all-around to place second. Nocella added a 39.125 and Megan Harrington recorded a 39.075.
Central Michigan improves to 9-0 with the win and 3-0 in MAC competition. Bowling Green falls to 5-4 and 3-1, but all four of the Falcons' losses have come against teams ranked in the top 20 in the country. The Falcons entered the weekend ranked No. 39 but are likely to improve based on scores from Sunday's meet as well as the team's 194.325 Friday in Chicago. Bowling Green will head south to compete in a triangular at Maryland Saturday with Yale beginning at 2 pm. BGSU entered the week ranked ahead of both squads.
