Scores Continue to Rise for Falcon Gymnastics

Sunday, February 21

Kent, Ohio

1:00 PM

Bowling Green State University

195.350

196.125

Kent State

February 21, 2016 | Gymnastics

By: by Alexx Klein, BGSU Athletic Communications

NCAA Official Scoresheet/Event Results

Kent, Ohio – For the second straight meet this season, the Bowling Green State University gymnastics team surpassed a total team score of 195, earning a 195.350 against Mid-American Conference foe Kent State on Sunday afternoon. The Golden Flashes scored a 196.125 routing Bowling Green (4-8, 0-3) in the M.A.C. Center.

"I am very pleased with the competition the gymnasts put together today," said head coach Kerrie Turner. "Our program continues to make improvements each week and I saw more hit routines today than any other meet thus far. We truly had to work to get every tenth! This road score will really help our regional qualifying score. Our eyes are fixed upon getting to the NCAA post season as a team and this score was an excellent step towards that.

Individually, Alyssa Nocella and Lauren Feely achieved great all-around scores. The beam line-up also shined, scoring over 49 for the second week in a row. I can't say enough about the true team effort and the genuine support this team has for one another."

Placing individually for the Falcons, Victoria Heath and Lauren Feely tied for first on vault with scores of 9.8. Feely also earned a first-place finish in the all-around, tying her career-best score of 39.175. Alyssa Nocella placed third on uneven bars with a 9.825, adding to her second place all-around (39.150) and balance beam (9.825) finishes. Nocella had the team's top score on three of the four individual events and Heath on two of the three she competed.

Also placing second on beam were teammates Caroline Ellingboe and Laura Mitchell, completing the three-way tie.

The Falcons began the afternoon on uneven bars, with three of the five scorers earning career or season-high scores. Mitchell (9.725) and Rachel Reis (9.8) each tied their previous season bests and Shannon Goniwiecha recorded a career-high 9.750. Feely and Nocella wrapped things up for BGSU, scoring a 9.8 and 9.825, respectively. With their second highest bars score this season, the Orange and Brown led the Golden Flashes 48.900-48.725 after the first event.

Bowling Green then moved on to vault, and led by Heath and Feely's 9.8s and Nocella's 9.7, again recorded its second highest score of the season with a 48.725. The Falcons were down just .300 heading into the second half of the meet with overall scores totaling 97.850-97.550.

Leading off on floor was freshman Rachel Creagh, who tied her career-best score of 9.65 for the fourth meet this season. Scorers on the event included fellow freshman Kayla Rose (9.675), Feely (9.775), Mitchell (9.675), Heath (9.8) and Nocella (9.8). Through three events, the Falcons trailed .600 heading to the final rotation.

Despite putting together a great balance beam sequence, Bowling Green was unable to hold off Kent State in the end. However, the Falcons shined on the event, totaling a 49.075, the team's highest event score of the meet and second highest beam score of the season. This is the second straight meet the Orange and Brown have broken the 49 mark.

The first three gymnasts in the lineup, Feely (9.8), Heath (9.75) and Reis (9.8), all set or tied career-highs. The final three to go all recorded team-highs on the event, as Ellingboe, Nocella and Mitchell received 9.825s.

The Falcons remain on the road next weekend as they face Ball State in Muncie, Ind. for a 1 p.m. conference matchup. The meet will give the gymnasts a chance to compete in Irving Gymnasium prior to this season's MAC Championships on March 19. Bowling Green makes its return to Anderson Arena on March 4 for a conference meet against Central Michigan at 6 p.m.