Falcons Take On Central Michigan Sunday In Mount Pleasant

BOWLING GREEN STATE UNIVERSITY FALCONS (5-5; 1-2 MAC)
AT
CENTRAL MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY CHIPPEWAS (7-3; 3-1 MAC)
Sunday, Feb. 22 | 1 p.m. ET | McGuirk Arena | Mount Pleasant, Michigan
Live Stats: www.BGSUFALCONS.com
Live Video ($$): www.CMUCHIPPEWAS.com
Follow Along: @FalconGymn | @BGAthletics
COMPLETE MEET NOTES (.PDF)

BOWLING GREEN, Ohio – The Bowling Green State University gymnastics team will hit the road for the second straight week. The Orange and Brown will take on Central Michigan at 1 p.m. on Feb. 22 inside of McGuirk Arena in Mount Pleasant, Michigan. Over their last three meets, the Falcons have scored above a 195.000 for the first time in program history.

FOLLOW THE FALCONS
A link to follow live stats can be found at BGSUFalcons.com for this weekend's dual meet at Central Michigan. The meet will also be aired live at CMUChippewas.com for a fee. Fans can also follow the BGSU gymnastics team on Twitter @FalconGymn for in-meet updates, news and notes, or BGSU Athletics @BGAthletics. Furthermore, Bowling Green fans can follow the gymnastics team on Instagram by searching "bgsu_gymnastics," or BGSU Athletics by searching "bgfalcons."

ABOUT THE CHIPPEWAS
Central Michigan has placed first at the MAC Championships across the last five seasons, and has qualified for the NCAA Regionals in each of the past six seasons. Currently, the Chippewas – who are 7-3 in 2015 – sit atop the MAC standings with Northern Illinois at 3-1. Central Michigan posted a season-high 196.400 in a victory over Kent State on Sunday (Feb. 15), and is averaging a team score of 194.629, which ranks second in the MAC only to Eastern Michigan's 194.642. Senior Halle Moraw was named MAC Gymnast of the Week for the third time this season for her efforts against Kent State. Moraw tied for first on beam (9.900) and vault (9.850), while finishing second on floor (9.900).

HEAD COACH'S THOUGHTS
Kerrie Turner: "Our plan this weekend is to compete to win. We continue to build scores, and we will again be looking for an excellent road score to add to our Regional Qualifying Score. The focus will be celebrating and building on the routines performed in the past. And finding places to improve fine details, such as stuck landings. Competition for lineup spots continues to bring out the best in our student-athletes, and allows us to field stronger lineups each week. I expect this team to perform to its fullest potential, and compete aggressively. Ultimately, the team we compete against does not affect us, so we must improve on our own great performances from the past couple of weeks. We are ready to take that next step."

WHAT A WIN WOULD MEAN
* A win over Central Michigan would move BGSU to 6-5 on the season, giving the program an improved chance to secure its first winning season since 2002.
* A triumph over the Chippewas would improve the Falcons to 2-2 in Mid-American Conference play
* A victory over Central Michigan would be Bowling Green's first over CMU since 2008.
* If the Falcons could beat the Chippewas, it would be the program's first at Central Michigan since 1987.

RACE TO REGIONALS
Bowling Green is currently ranked No. 43 in the country, according to troester.com, with the top 36 teams earning a trip to the NCAA Regionals. Currently, a school's average team score determines the rankings. But starting next week, and throughout the remainder of the regular season, a school's Regional Qualifying Score (RQS) will determine those among the top 36. Each team will get credit for their top three away scores and their next three top scores (either home or away). The top score is dropped and the five remaining scores are averaged to calculate the RQS. By scoring a 195.200 on the road in DeKalb, Illinois on Sunday (Feb. 15), Bowling Green dropped a 191.175 – that they scored on Jan. 17 at the Ozone Collegiate Classic – and added the 195.200. The Falcons' RQS is currently a 194.125.

BACK-TO-BACK-TO-BACK
For the first time in school history, BGSU gymnastics has registered a team score above a 195.000 in back-to-back-to-back competitions. On Feb. 6, Bowling Green scored a 195.200 against Ohio State at Anderson Arena. Two days – also inside of Anderson Arena – on Feb. 8, the Falcons defeated Ball State for their first Mid-American Conference victory in 2015 by totaling a 195.500. On Sunday (Feb. 22) at Northern Illinois, the Orange and Brown scored another 195.200 to finish second at a triangular in DeKalb, Illinois. Bowling Green defeated Alaska Anchorage (190.925), but the Huskies scored a program-high 195.650 to earn the sweep. The 195.500 ranks eighth in school history, while the pair of 195.200 scores are tied for the ninth-best team score in program history.

BGSU BRINGS THE BOOM TO CLOSE OUT THE WEEKEND
After scoring a 48.300 on bars and a 48.825 on beam in DeKalb, Illinois last Sunday (Feb. 15), Bowling Green stuck to what head coach Kerrie Turner has been preaching, and brought the "boom" to close out the competition. The Falcons registered a 49.125 on floor, which is the highest score that BGSU has posted on any apparatus this season. The Orange and Brown then posted a season-high 48.950 on vault, nearly erasing a Northern Illinois lead in the process. Bowling Green did, however, run away from Alaska Anchorage to earn the season sweep of the Seawolves. The Falcons also topped UAA at the Ozone Collegiate Classic on Jan. 17 in Knoxville, Tennessee.

THE GURNEE RETURNEE
Sophomore Lauren Feely – a native of Gurnee, Illinois – returned to her home state last Sunday (Feb. 15), and turned in a career day at Bowling Green's triangular with Northern Illinois and Alaska Anchorage in DeKalb, Illinois. Feely won vault for the second straight week by scoring a season-high 9.875. The 2013 MAC Freshman of the Year also place tied for third on floor by registering a career-best 9.850. Feely continues to dominant on vault, as she has earned a 9.800 or above on the apparatus at six of Bowling Green's seven competitions in 2015.

MORE THAN ONE WAY FOR RAE
Freshman Jordan Rae – who hails from Auckland, New Zealand – has continued to find new ways to make an impact for head coach Kerrie Turner. The freshman posted a 9.675 on bars in her collegiate debut against Michigan State on Jan. 10, and since then, has competed on multiple events across Bowling Green's last six competitions. Over the Falcons' last three meets, Rae has set at least one career high – and has done so on three separate events. On Feb. 6 against Ohio State, Rae scored a 9.775 on beam. Two days later (Feb. 8) versus Ball State, Rae established career highs on bars (9.825) – an event she has competed on in all seven of BGSU's meets in 2015 – as well as beam (9.825) and floor (9.775). In DeKalb, Illinois last Sunday (Feb. 15), Rae topped her floor score by earning a 9.800.

CALL HER "CAREER-HIGH" HEATH
Sophomore Victoria Heath – who made her debut in the team's season opener against Michigan State on Jan. 10 – has established a career high in each of Bowling Green's seven meets in 2015. Most recently – at BGSU's triangular on Feb. 15 with Northern Illinois and Alaska Anchorage – Heath set career bests on floor and vault. On the two events that she has competed on at every meet this season, Heath placed tied for fifth on floor by scoring a 9.825. Heath also finished tied for seventh on vault by notching a 9.750. On Feb. 8 against Ball State, Heath posted a 9.750, which topped her 9.650 that she earned two days prior on Feb. 6 versus Ohio State.

NOCELLA AND LOCIGNO LEAD THE FALCONS ON FLOOR
Junior Alyssa Nocella and senior Gina Locigno sit at the end of Kerrie Turner's lineup on floor for a reason. Turner knows that she can rely on her two upperclassmen to boost the team's score on the apparatus. Both Nocella and Locigno have scored a 9.800 or above on floor in each of Bowling Green's last four competitions. Nocella earned a career-high 9.925 to win the apparatus on Feb. 8 against Ball State, while Locigno has registered 9.825 scores over the Falcons' last two meets. Locigno posted a season-high 9.850 against Ohio State on Feb. 6. Nocella also scored a 9.850 that day, and most recently, posted a 9.825 on Sunday in DeKalb, Illinois.

DIFFICULT DRIVE TO DEKALB
The Falcons trip to DeKalb, Illinois last weekend was quite the journey. The team bus departed from Anderson Arena at 12:30 p.m. ET on Saturday (Feb. 14), with an approximate arrival time of 6 p.m. ET in mind. However, snow and wind made the roads unsafe. And after approximately eight hours of travel, the team was still over 100 miles away from DeKalb. BGSU gymnastics was forced to stop in Portage, Indiana for the evening. And hit the road again in the morning at 9:30 a.m. ET. The team arrived at the Convocation Center at approximately 12:30 p.m. ET – two and a half hours before the triangular was set to begin. The team overcame the tough travel, however, and posted the tied for ninth-best team score (195.200) in program history.

TOP ROUTINES IN 2015
All-Around: 39.350 | Alyssa Nocella (2/8/15 vs. Ball State)
Bars: 9.850 | Lievendag, Mitchell (1/10/15 vs. Michigan State; 2/8/15 vs. Ball State)
Beam: 9.875 | Laura Mitchell (2/1/15 at George Washington)
Floor: 9.925 | Alyssa Nocella (2/8/15 vs. Ball State)
Vault: 9.875 | Jamilah Ali, Lauren Feely (1/10/15 vs. Michigan State; 2/15/15 at Northern Illinois)

HISTORIC WEEKEND AT ANDERSON ARENA
Bowling Green returned to Anderson Arena on Feb. 6 and Feb. 8 after competing in three-straight road meets. On Feb. 6, the Falcons scored a 195.200 in a dual-meet loss against Ohio State. On Sunday, Feb. 8, the Orange and Brown earned its first Mid-American Conference victory of the season by defeating Ball State, 195.500–193.875. The two team scores rank eighth and tied for ninth in program history, respectively. Against Ohio State, 10 season highs were set, along with six career highs. And versus Ball State, 11 season bests were set, and eight career highs were established. Freshman Laura Mitchell and senior Amanda Lievendag tied for first on bars versus the Buckeyes. And against the Cardinals, sophomore Lauren Feely and Lievendag tied for first on vault, while Mitchell took the bars title again and junior Alyssa Nocella won floor. Nocella also won the all-around both nights.

NOCELLA NAMED MAC GYMNAST OF THE WEEK
Junior Alyssa Nocella – from Gilbertsville, Pennsylvania – was named the MAC Gymnast of the Week for her performances against Ohio State (Feb. 6) and Ball State (Feb. 8). The junior won the all-around both nights. On Feb. 6, Nocella scored a 39.175 in the all-around, and set season highs on bars (9.725), beam (9.825) and floor (9.850). Nocella placed tied for second on floor and beam, while also scoring a 9.775 on vault to place tied for fourth on that apparatus. On Feb. 8, Nocella stole the show. She earned a 39.350 in the all-around, which is tied for third best in program history. The junior also won floor by posting a career-best 9.925, which is tied for the fifth-best routine on floor in BGSU gymnastics history. Nocella also surpassed her season high on bars, which she set two nights earlier, by scoring a 9.825 to place tied for the second in the event. While also posting a 9.800 on beam, Nocella placed tied for third on vault by earning a 9.800. The 9.800 on vault tied a career best. In total, Nocella earned seven top-three finishes over the weekend, which includes the two all-around titles, as well as the first-place finish on floor versus Ball State. This past Sunday (Feb. 15), Nocella won the all-around again, and placed fourth on beam by recording a 9.800.

MITCHELL TABBED AS MAC SPECIALIST OF THE WEEK
Laura Mitchell – a freshman from London, England – earned a pair of first-place finishes on bars for BGSU versus Ohio State (Feb. 6) and Ball State (Feb. 8). On Feb. 6, Mitchell scored a career-high 9.825 to finish tied for first on bars, and also scored a 9.825 on beam to finish tied for second on that apparatus. On Feb. 8, Mitchell claimed the outright title on bars, and topped her 9.825 that she posted against the Buckeyes, by registering a career-best 9.850. Her 9.850 helped BGSU score a 49.000 on the event, which at the time, was the team's highest score on an apparatus this season. The freshman also recorded a 9.725 on beam. Mitchell – who placed tied for second last Sunday (Feb. 15) on beam by scoring a 9.825 – has placed first on an apparatus in four of the first five meets of her collegiate career.

A TRIO OF CHAMPIONSHIPS FOR ALI AND LIEVENDAG
Seniors Jamilah Ali and Amanda Lievendag have earned three first-place finishes apiece in 2015. Lievendag tied for first on bars against Ohio State on Feb. 6 and tied for first on vault on Feb. 8 versus Ball State, scoring a 9.825 both times. Lievendag won bars against Michigan State on Jan. 10 by posting a season-high 9.850. Ali, on the other hand, finished first on an apparatus in BGSU's first three meets in 2015. She registered a career-high 9.875 on vault against Michigan State, a 9.625 (tied) on beam at the Ozone Collegiate Classic Jan. 17, and won another outright championship on vault at Eastern Michigan on Jan. 24 by scoring a 9.850.

DOWN GOES SPARTY
Bowling Green opened the 2015 season with a 194.775–194.075 victory over Michigan State. The win was the program's first over a Big Ten Conference opponent since 2004. The triumph was also the Orange and Brown's second ever win against the Spartans, with the only previous win taking place in 1984. The Falcons bested Michigan State on vault (48.850), bars (48.675), and floor (48.650), and individually, took home the vault and bars titles. Senior Jamilah Ali scored a meet-high 9.875 on vault, while fellow senior Amanda Lievendag won bars with a 9.850. Bowling Green's team score of 194.775 was its highest at in opening meet since 2001.

SCHOLASTIC ALL-AMERICANS
In August, nine Falcons were named Scholastic All-Americans by the National Association of College Gymnastics Coaches for Women (NACGC/W). Student-athletes must have a grade point average of 3.50 or higher to be honored. Lauren Feely, Rachel Reis, Alyssa Nocella, Caroline Ellingboe, Rachel Perry, Katrina Carpenter, Gina Locigno, along with graduates Megan Harrington and Megan Valentini, were recognized. Overall, the Falcons placed 18th in the nation with a team GPA of 3.4738, improving on last year's 3.1471 GPA that ranked 55th.

GYMNASTICS SIGNS THREE FOR 2016
In November, head coach Kerrie Turner announced the signing of three student-athletes to National Letters of Intent for the 2016 season. Julia Beyer (Naperville, Ill./Neuqua Valley High School/Naperville Gymnastics Club), Chelsea Eley (Greensboro, N.C./Westchester Country Day School/High Point Gymnastics Academy) and Lauren De Meno (Staten Island, N.Y./Tottenville High School/Head Over Heels Gymnastics) will all join the program next fall.

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Jamilah Ali

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