Falcons Fall in MAC Opener at Western Michigan

Sunday, January 17

Kalamazoo, Mich.

1:00 PM

Bowling Green State University

193.575

195.275

Western Michigan

January 17, 2016 | Gymnastics

By: by Alexx Klein, BGSU Athletic Communications

Final stats
Post-meet interview: Kerrie Turner

Kalamazoo, Mich. – The Bowling Green State University gymnastics team improved its team scores on three of four apparatuses from last weekend to this weekend, despite falling to Western Michigan and Eastern Michigan at University Arena Sunday afternoon. The Broncos scored 195.275 to take first place, followed by the Eagles with 195.050, then the Falcons with 193.575.

The matchup with WMU counts as a Mid-American conference meet for BGSU (0-4, 0-1 MAC) who now leads the series with the Broncos 28-13-1.

"We worked really hard last week on replicating the competition environment in the gym and I think the athletes did a good job with that," said head coach Kerrie Turner. "They made an improvement from last week to this week, but we are certainly hoping for more as we work to get the team healthy and get our line-ups stronger."

In one week's time, BGSU's scores on uneven bars, balance beam and floor exercise all improved. The biggest jump came on floor exercise with the Falcons earning a 48.425 this afternoon compared to their 47.725 in their opening meet. The Orange and Brown won the uneven bars with a team score of 48.875. The five scorers on the apparatus (Rachel Reis, Feely, Leslie Delgado, Nocella, Ellingboe) all earned a 9.725 or higher.

The Falcons had three athletes place first on events, with junior Victoria Heath tying for first on vault with a season-high 9.775 and seniors Alyssa Nocella and Caroline Ellingboe tying for first on uneven bars with season highs of 9.825.

For the second meet in a row, Nocella has recorded the team's highest individual score, this time with her 9.825 on uneven bars. The senior notched a 38.325 in all-around competition for BGSU.

Heath also placed third on floor exercise, tying teammate Lauren Feely with a score of 9.775.

Feely equaled her all-around score from last meet against Arizona State and Nebraska with a 38.725 for a fifth-place finish.

Another Falcon who continues to shine is sophomore Laura Mitchell, who recorded her second straight 9.800 on the balance beam this season. Her career-high is a 9.875 as she hopes to break that mark in 2016.

The Orange and Brown head home to Anderson Arena for the first time this season to take on Alaska-Anchorage on Jan. 23 at 6 pm. The team then remains in Bowling Green, but will compete at the Stroh Center for the first time in program history on Jan. 30 as they host Denver at 4 pm. That meet will be broadcast on ESPN3.

"We'll be ready to take Anderson by storm and get our home fans there and try to use that momentum to overcome some of the hurdles we've had these first two meets," added Turner.