Falcons Raise RQS and Earn Huge Win with 195.725 at CMU

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MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. – The Bowling Green State University took a huge step forward in their chase for a second consecutive NCAA Regionals berth by defeating Central Michigan 195.725-195.625 on Sunday afternoon. The cumulative team score is tied for the seventh-best in BGSU history, and the victory by the Falcons is the first at Mount Pleasant in 30 years.

The Falcons led off Sunday's meet with the uneven bars. The team had struggled all season on that apparatus and needed a strong showing in order to make their regionals dream a realistic one. Today's lineup produced exactly what the team was looking for.

Sophomore Julia Beyer went second and, in just her second collegiate start, wowed the crowd with a routine that earned a 9.850 from the judges. The Falcons had only equaled that mark once in their first 48 performances of the season.

Lauren Feely went next and kicked off her first all-around action of 2017 with a season-best 9.775 on the bars. Fellow senior Rachel Reis added a career-best 9.875, which set a new 2017 standard for BGSU on the bars. Laura Mitchell finished the lineup by notching a 9.825. In total, the Falcons scored a 48.875 on the uneven bars, which is 0.450 better than their previous season best.

"What a meet! I am so thrilled with the strong start on uneven bars. We have been working with the team to get that event together, and now they can be confident, because they have achieved a strong score in competition," said BGSU head coach Kerrie Turner.

With that success in hand, Bowling Green was able to focus on achieving their first 195 of the season. The team moved to vault during the second rotation and responded with 9.700 or higher from all six gymnasts. The lineup's cumulative 49.050 tied the team's best event score of the season (vault, Jan. 13 at Utah State).

Jovannah East won the event and continued her run of vault excellence. Her leap on Sunday earned a 9.875; that ties her career best and gives her a 9.850 or better on vault for six straight meets. Feely added a 9.850 to earn second place. In fact, East and Feely have finished either first or second on vault for four straight meets. Lauren DeMeno contributed a 9.800, and Katie Morsefield's 9.775 was a personal record.

BGSU moved to the floor exercise to start the second half of the meet. Once again, the lineup was only five-deep, but that added pressure has only made the group stronger. This week, the upward trajectory of the floor exercise score continued with a season-best 48.950. The Falcons' effort was led by a trio of 9.850s from East, Mitchell and Kayla Rose. They were BGSU's first 9.850s of the season in this event. East and Mitchell each registered career highs.

The Falcons took the overall lead in the meet following the third rotation after CMU was forced to count a fall during their turn on the balance beam. That development provided even more motivation for a strong finish.

Bowling Green's balance beam lineup gave the team that strong finish, as they tied the second-best mark of the season with a 48.850. Taylor Worthington posted a 9.825 for the Falcons' top score, while East added another 9.800.

"Once the momentum started, it never left our team. They were focused and did not let any small mistakes get in their way. This team has truly persevered through so much, and they badly wanted this win today," said Turner.

BGSU's cumulative 195.725 is the team's best of the season by 0.775 points. It is also tied for the seventh best score in school history, matching the Falcons' total from last season's tri-meet with Ohio State and West Virginia. More importantly, Sunday's score improves the Falcons' Regional Qualifying Score (RQS) from 193.685 to 194.100. With two more road meet left on the schedule, this is a key development for the postseason chase.

Individually, East and Reis both captured event victories. East's win on the vault was eighth event victory of the season. She also has 14 straight routines that have earned 9.800 or better. Reis captured her second event title of 2017; her previous win was on Jan. 21 against Illinois State. Meanwhile, Feely was the meet's only all-around competitor, and she brought home a 38.525.

Sunday's victory over Central Michigan was also historic for the Falcons. It is the first for BGSU in Mount Pleasant since 1987 and the first at any location since 2008. For those keeping score, 1987 was also the last year in which Bowling Green made a repeat appearance in the NCAA Regionals, as they earned a berth for a fourth straight year.

Bowling Green is now 3-11 overall and 2-2 in Mid-American Conference dual meets. CMU, who finished the day with a 195.625, drops to 7-4 overall and 2-3 in the MAC. BGSU returns to the mat on Friday, March 3 at 6:00 p.m. against Kent State. It will be the final home meet of the season at Anderson Arena, and the team's three seniors will be recognized after the meet. The team also competes at Michigan State on Sunday, March 5.

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Julia Beyer

Jovannah East

Lauren Feely

Laura Mitchell

Katie Morsefield

Rachel Reis

Kayla Rose

Taylor Worthington

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