Nocella Shines As BGSU Tops Ball State, 195.500-193.875

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BOWLING GREEN, Ohio – The Bowling Green State University gymnastics team earned its first Mid-American Conference victory of 2015 on Sunday (Feb. 8) afternoon by defeating Ball State, 195.500–193.875, at Anderson Arena. For the second straight meet, Bowling Green's team score ranks eighth-best in program history. The Orange and Brown's 195.200 that they scored Friday night, now ranks ninth-best all-time.

With the win, the Falcons now own a record of 4-4 (1-1 MAC), while Ball State drops to 0-6 (0-2 MAC).

"I was so pleased with the performance," said head coach Kerrie Turner. "Anytime you come off a great competition, and you know you have another one days away, you want to make sure that there isn't a let down in focus. We discussed that quite a bit on Friday night, making sure that they came in here hungry and determined, and that they did everything right on their day off to recover to be ready to go. And clearly they were able to do that. I said, 'Do more than Friday. Don't repeat it, do more than that.' It was great to see the score reflect that."

As a team, Bowling Green placed first on bars (49.000–47.850), floor (48.950–48.700) and vault (48.775–48.200). Ball State won beam, 49.125–48.775. BGSU's 49.000 on bars is the team's highest score on any apparatus this season. Bowling Green's floor score was also a season high, while its beam score ranks second on the season.

Individually, junior Alyssa Nocella led the way. Nocella won floor by scoring a career-high 9.925, which is the fifth-best score in program history. Nocella also placed tied for second with freshman Jordan Rae – who made her debut on the apparatus – on bars with a 9.825, and ranked tied for third on vault with a 9.800. The junior's vault tied a career best, while her 9.825 on bars established a new season high. Furthermore, Nocella scored a 9.800 on beam to place sixth. The junior won the all-around with a 39.350, which ties her career high that ranks third all-time in BGSU gymnastics history.

Senior Amanda Lievendag – who tied for first on bars Friday night – tied for first on vault with sophomore Lauren Feely by posting 9.825 scores. Bowling Green swept the event, as Nocella ranked third. For Lievendag, the 9.825 was a season high. For Feely, it tied a season high.

Bowling then dominated on bars. Laura Mitchell placed first with a career-best 9.850. The freshman has now placed first, or tied for first on an apparatus in all four meets that she's competed in. Following Nocella and Rae – who tied for second – were freshman Morgan Denlinger, junior Caroline Ellingboe and Lievendag. The trio tied for fourth by scoring a 9.750 apiece. The 9.750 for Denlinger was a career high.

On beam, Rae led the way and placed tied for third by registering a career-high 9.825. Following Nocella – who placed sixth – was sophomore Victoria Heath, who placed eighth with a career-best 9.750. Heath has now set a new career high in each of Bowling Green's six meets this year.

Although Nocella stole the headlines of floor, several other Falcons contributed nicely. Senior Gina Locigno earned a 9.825 to finish tied for the second. Rae made her debut on the apparatus, and scored a 9.775 to place tied for fifth. Freshman McKenna Schoenberger ranked seventh with a career-best 9.750. Schoenberger has now set new career bests on floor in three straight meets, as she earned a 9.700 versus Ohio State (Feb. 6) and a 9.650 at George Washington (Feb. 1).

Additionally, senior Jamilah Ali placed tied for sixth on vault with a 9.675. And junior Katrina Carpenter tied a career high on the same apparatus for the third consecutive meet by recording a 9.650.

In total – individually – 11 season highs were set, while eight career bests were established. Three scores tied season bests, and three more scores tied career highs.

The Falcons will now hit the road for a pair of road MAC meets across the next two weekends. The Orange and Brown will take on Northern Illinois in Dekalb, Illinois with Alaska Anchorage at 3 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 15. Bowling Green will then travel to Mount Pleasant, Michigan to take on Central Michigan on Sunday, Feb. 22 at 1 p.m.

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Jamilah Ali

Katrina Carpenter

Morgan Denlinger

Caroline Ellingboe

Lauren Feely

Victoria Heath

Amanda Lievendag

Gina Locigno

Laura Mitchell

Alyssa Nocella

Jordan Rae

McKenna Schoenberger

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