Gymnastics: WVU Falls at No. 13 Penn State
February 20, 2010 09:55 PM | General
February 20, 2010
MEET RESULTS
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| Chelsea Goldschrafe |
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Despite a ferocious comeback that spanned the final two rotations, the West Virginia University gymnastics team fell to No. 13-ranked Penn State, 195.95-194.925, this evening at Rec Hall infront of 2,330 spectators.
The Mountaineers’ (11-4, 6-0 EAGL) final score is their second-best of the season and top road mark.
Tonight’s loss is the Mountaineers’ second this year to the Nittany Lions; PSU scored a 193.9-191.225 season-opening win on Jan. 8.
WVU came from behind and trailed PSU by 0.2 points, 146.65-146.45, heading into the fourth rotation. Despite scoring four 9.8-plus marks on beam, the Mountaineers could not overcome the Nittany Lions’ lead.
The Mountaineers’ 48.475 beam score gave the squad its only win over PSU on the evening, as the Nittany Lions tallied 48.2 on the apparatus. WVU lost on vault (49.2-48.85), bars (49.25-48.7) and floor (49.3-48.9).
Junior Amy Bieski matched a season-best 39.25 all-around score and finished third overall. The Nanticoke, Pa., native’s combined score is her fourth 39.0-plus mark of the season and career 11th. She moves into a three-way tie for eighth place with Umme Salim and Amanda Halovanic for the most career 39.0-plus scores.
PSU’s Brandi Personett finished first overall with 39.7 points, while her teammate Whitney Bencsko took second with a 39.3 score.
The Mountaineers fell behind early, as PSU tallied 49.2 on vault and WVU scored 48.7 on bars.
Bieski paced the Mountaineers in the first rotation and scored 9.8, good enough for fifth place overall. Junior Faye Meaden and sophomore Nicole Roach finished behind Bieski with matching 9.75 scores, while senior Ashley Wilson and junior Alysha Pretzello opened and closed the rotation with 9.7s. Wilson’s score matches a season-best mark.
WVU tallied a solid 48.85 on vault in the second rotation but still trailed PSU through two events, 98.45-97.55. The Nittany Lions earned 49.25 on bars.
Bieski and senior Chelsi Tabor went fifth and sixth for the Mountaineers and finished second overall with 9.825s; the score is a season-best for Bieski. Sophomore Tina Maloney preceded the duo with a season-high 9.775 score.
The Mountaineers pulled to within 0.2 points of the Nittany Lions in the third rotation, 146.65-146.45. WVU tallied 48.9 on floor while PSU scored 48.2 on beam.
Bieski and senior Shelly Purkat held strong for the Mountaineers on floor with matching 9.825 scores and finished fourth overall; Purkat’s score matched a season-best mark set last week. Maloney finished second on the team with a 9.8, while freshman Chelsea Goldschrafe matched a career-best with a 9.75 score.
WVU closed out the meet with a 48.475 showing on beam, while PSU scored 49.3 on floor.
The Mountaineers opened their fourth rotation flawlessly, as Goldschrafe scored a career-best 9.85 and finished second overall. The top three finish is a career-first for the Franklin Lakes, N.J., native. Tabor and Roach followed with matching 9.8s and tied for third place; both marks are career-bests. Additionally, after the judges agreed that there was a distraction in her first routine, Bieski was afforded a second performance. She also tallied 9.8 and tied for third place.
Tonight’s loss drops WVU to 33-6 all-time against PSU.
The Mountaineers stay on the road and travel to Lincoln, Neb., on Feb. 28 for a meet at No. 10 Nebraska, with No. 18 Denver and No. 21 Arizona. The quad-meet is set to start at 2 p.m. CT.
