Falcons Fly Past Cardinals for First MAC Victory in Annual Pink Meet

Saturday, February 18

Bowling Green, Ohio

4:00 PM

Bowling Green State University

194.950

193.625

Ball State

Photo by: Bianca Garza, BGSU Marketing and Communications

Falcons Fly Past Cardinals for First MAC Victory in Annual Pink Meet

February 18, 2017 | Gymnastics

By: by Matthew Daley, Athletic Communicationis Assistant

MEET RESULTS (.pdf)

BOWLING GREEN, Ohio – The Bowling Green State University gymnastics team captured its first Mid-American Conference victory by scoring a season-high 194.950 against the Ball State Cardinals on Saturday, Feb. 18 at Anderson Arena. The Falcons showcased three separate individual event winners and the team's best set of floor exercise routines of 2017 during the team's annual Pink Meet.

"I thought we took a really strong step forward today. We have been focusing all week on putting the past behind us, because it really hasn't been the start that we wanted," said BGSU head coach Kerrie Turner. "We have six opportunities left, and I think we really took advantage of opportunity number one here and put together a really good meet. The team was really cohesive and that showed up on the competition floor."

BGSU began the afternoon meet on the vault, and their lineup put together the team's second 49 of the season on the apparatus. Taylor Worthington started with a productive jump that garnered a 9.750. Lauren DeMeno (9.725) and Randi Morris (9.775) each improved their season averages with their efforts. Katie Morsefield returned from injury for her first official action of 2017 and posted a 9.675.

Senior Lauren Feely and freshman Jovannah East displayed the two best individual vaults for the third straight meet. Feely won against Western Michigan with a 9.925, while East followed. The results flipped against New Hampshire as East's 9.850 was victorious. On Saturday, Feely scored a 9.900 for the victory. East took second place after a 9.850 that improved her season average.

The Falcons moved to the uneven bars for the second rotation. The team improved its cumulative score by more than one point, as they had three scores of 9.7 or better. Sophomore Julia Beyer completed her first official collegiate routine, and her 9.225 was one of the five counted scores. Alex Johnston added a 9.625, a score which was her best on the bars since Jan. 28. DeMeno finished in a three-way tie for second place thanks to a personal-record 9.800. Laura Mitchell went last and took the event title with a 9.825.

BGSU led the meet, 97.175-96.700, at the halfway point.

The meet continued with Bowling Green on the balance beam during the third rotation. The Falcons won a third individual event title, and the lineup secured a 48.850. The team now has its two best team scores on the beam in its last two meets, following a 49.000 last week against New Hampshire. East added her third beam victory of the season with a beautiful routine that notched a 9.825. Johnston set a new personal record and tied for second place by earning a 9.800. In addition, Randi Morris' first career beam routine resulted in a 9.750.

The Falcons went with just a five-deep floor exercise lineup for the third straight meet. However, the team's results continue to improve, this time to a 48.925. BGSU did not produce an individual floor champion against the Cardinals, but Kayla Rose, Mitchell, Morris and East all tied for second with matching 9.800s. Morris tied her personal best, while East competed on the floor for the first time as a Falcon.

"I'm happy with the improvement. We still have work to do on uneven bars, although we did better on that event. I think the athletes competed courageously today. I did not see fear today, so I feel like next week, they'll be able to improve on this. We will continue to get better," said Turner.

Ball State began the meet with multiple falls on the uneven bars and scored only a 47.800. They also managed just 48.225 on the balance beam. For the meet as a whole, the Cardinals finished with a 193.625. The Falcons competed with the lead throughout the meet, and the team responded with a 194.950, which exceeded the 194.800 they scored on Feb. 5.

East continues to dominate in her first season at BGSU. She leads the team with seven event victories and has earned a 9.800 or better in all 11 routines since sitting out the home opener against Illinois State. Meanwhile, Feely won her third event of 2017, while Mitchell won her second.

BGSU is now 2-11 overall and 1-2 in MAC contests this season. Ball State drops to 4-7 overall and 2-1 against MAC opponents. The Falcons next meet is at 1:00 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 26 in Mount Pleasant, Mich. against Central Michigan. CMU (6-3, 1-2 MAC) is currently ranked 43rd nationally with a 194.125 average.