Falcons Post Season-High Score in Win Over Alaska-Anchorage

Saturday, January 23

Bowling Green, Ohio

6:00 PM

Bowling Green State University

194.075

191.500

Alaska Anchorage

Photo by: BGSU Strategic Communications

January 23, 2016 | Gymnastics

By: By Alexx Klein, BGSU Athletic Communications

Photo Gallery
Post meet interview- Kerrie Turner
Post meet interview- Laura Mitchell
Event Results
All-Aorund Results
NCAA Final Scoresheet

Bowling Green, Ohio – Lauren Feely and Alyssa Nocella took first and second place, respectively, in all-around competition on Saturday night to lead the Bowling Green State University gymnastics team to a win over Alaska-Anchorage. The meet, which BGSU won by a season-high score of 194.075-191.500, took place in Anderson Arena in front of a crowd of over 500 people.

This is BGSU's largest margin of victory since Feb. 22, 2015 when the Falcons defeated the Seawolves 195.200-190.925.

"It was really important that we were able to come back and regroup and take another step forward," said head coach Kerrie Turner. "We have the most amazing fans. They were here filling up Anderson Arena, helping our team to keep them moving through the whole meet."

As a team, Bowling Green won three of the four events (vault, bars, floor), and added season-high scores on floor exercise (48.900) and balance beam (48.400). The 48.900 is the highest score on any apparatus for the Falcons this season, while the 48.400 ranks fourth on an event in 2016. BGSU also won vault with a score of 48.150. Alaska-Anchorage tied the Orange and Brown on the balance beam.

Individually, Feely earned a 38.500 in all-around, placing first on the event. Her highest score of the night came on floor exercise with a season-high 9.825, earning her second place. With another season-high score, she also took first place on vault with a 9.800 where she was the 2015 co-MAC Champion.

Nocella, who placed second in all-around with a 38.350, finished tied for third on vault (9.650), first on uneven bars (9.800), second on balance beam with a season-high (9.800) and added an 11th place finish on floor.

Two other Falcons won events on the night, as Victoria Heath placed first on floor and sophomore Laura Mitchell finished first on balance beam. Heath's 9.850 is a new career-best and the junior also took second place on vault with a 9.675. Mitchell's beam performance earned her a meet-high score of 9.875, which ties her career-high. The 9.875 is now the highest score of the season on any event for BGSU. Previously, it was 9.825 set by seniors Caroline Ellingboe and Nocella on uneven bars last weekend. Mitchell also tied for second on bars (9.725) with teammate Rachel Reis and on floor (9.825) with Feely and UAA's M'rcy Matsunami.

Sophomore Jordan Rae was back in uniform for the first time this season after an injury that has sidelined her for the beginning of 2016. In her season debut, she placed eighth on balance beam with a 9.600.

"She came back saying she was going to get in line up," Turner said. "I really expected to exhibition her this weekend, but she said 'You know what? I'm going to go.' And it showed. I expect she's only going to get better for us."

Additionally, freshman Katie Morsefield was in uniform tonight for the first time in her Falcon career. Freshman Kayla Rose set a new person best on floor exercise with a 9.750 and freshman Rachel Creagh tied a season-high of 9.500 on vault. Another freshman, Shannon Goniwiecha, tied for sixth overall on uneven bars with a career-high 9.675.

Bowling Green remains at home next weekend against the University of Denver, but the teams will compete in the Stroh Center for the first time in BGSU gymnastics history on Jan. 30.

"We cannot wait to get in the Stroh Center," added Turner. "The athletes have been talking about this since it has been announced. We cannot wait to bring it."