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WVU Drops Close Meet to No. 22 Kentucky
February 21, 2016 05:40 PM | Gymnastics
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – A strong showing on floor in the fourth rotation was not enough to push the Mountaineers to victory today, as the West Virginia University gymnastics team dropped a narrow 195.8-195.6 decision to No. 22 Kentucky this afternoon inside the WVU Coliseum.
The teams competed in front of 1,351 fans today in the fourth-annual Wendy M. Roach Pink Meet Invitational. Named in honor of former Mountaineer gymnast Nicole Roach’s (2009-12) mother, the meet serves as a yearly reminder to continue the fight against breast cancer.
“I thought we had a great crowd today,” fifth-year coach Jason Butts said. “Everyone was really into the competition – we could hear the cheers loud and proud. The team loved looking up into the stands and seeing all the pink, too. I know we brought a lot of awareness to the cause today, and that makes me proud.”
WVU has now scored 195.0 or better in the last six straight meets and is only the second squad in program history to tally 195.0+ in six of its first seven competitions.
The Mountaineers (2-6, 0-3) were outscored by the Wildcats (6-4, 1-4 SEC) on each event but floor today, where WVU used five scores of 9.8 or better to edge UK, 49.2-48.875.
“Floor was awesome today. I think for the first time this season, I saw confidence on that event, and each gymnast really performed to the crowd, the judges and her teammates,” Butts explained. “That’s the kind of confidence we need to see from the team on the road, too. Those are huge routines, and we need these scores moving forward this season.”
WVU junior Alexa Goldberg returned to the all-around competition after a three-meet absence and finished second with a 39.2 mark, the second-best score of her career. UK’s Sidney Dukes placed first with a 39.35 score.
“It was a big boost for us to have Alexa back in the all-around this afternoon,” Butts said. “She did an incredible job, especially on beam.”
A 49.0 showing on vault pushed the Mountaineers out to an early 49.0-48.925 advantage through one event. Ranked No. 12 nationally, WVU has scored 49.0 or better on vault in the last four straight meets and in every competition but one this season.
Sophomore Zaakira Muhammad continues to set the standard for WVU, as she finished second overall with a 9.875 score, a personal-best mark inside the WVU Coliseum. Freshman Kirah Koshinski tied for third place with a 9.85 score, while senior Jaida Lawrence placed third on the team, sixth overall, with a 9.8. Additionally, sophomore Robyn Bernard and Alexa Goldberg chipped in counting scores of 9.75 and 9.725, respectively; the mark is a career high for Goldberg.
Despite a strong 48.825 showing on bars, WVU fell behind in the second rotation, as UK tallied 49.125 on vault and surged ahead, 98.05-97.825.
Goldberg earned the outright event victory with a season-best 9.9 mark, a score she previously earned on Jan. 17. Freshman Tiara Wright finished tied for fourth place with a 9.8 score, her second-best mark of the year, while Muhammad finished seventh with a 9.75 total. Freshman Jaquie Tun added a 9.7 score, and Bernard opened the rotation with a 9.675, matching her season high.
WVU tallied 48.575 on beam in the third rotation and continued to trail UK, 146.925-146.4.
Senior Melissa Idell pulled through for the Mountaineers today, as the Newark, Delaware, native tied for the event win with a career-high 9.85 score. Goldberg opened the rotation with a season-high 9.775 and finished in fifth place. Koshinski placed seventh with a 9.675, while freshman Carly Galpin and senior Audrey Tolbert added marks of 9.65 and 9.625, respectively.
“Mel was so smart on beam today,” Butts said. “She reworked her routine in the meet and stayed calm and collected, which was awesome to see. That’s senior leadership at its best. Mel came through for us on the event, and she didn’t let mental mistakes trip her up. She’s at the peak of her gymnastics as a senior – what more can you ask?”
The Mountaineers tried to make up ground on floor in the fourth rotation but fell just short of the Wildcats, as UK answered WVU’s 49.2 score with a 48.875 showing on beam.
Koshinski earned her first career floor win with a 9.875 score, matching a career best-mark she first achieved on Jan. 24. Idell and Muhammad scored 9.85 and tied for second place; the total matches Idell’s season high. Sophomore Jordan Gillette placed fourth with a 9.825, and Goldberg tied for fifth with a 9.8.
“What I’m most excited about is we hit 24-for-24 today,” Butts added. “That’s impressive, epically coming off a grueling two weeks of travel. This performance puts us in a great place for the second half of the season.”
Despite the defeat, WVU continues to lead the all-time series, 15-8.
The Mountaineers return to the road next weekend and travel to Philadelphia for the Unite for Her Pink Invitational on Friday, Feb. 26, at 5p.m., at the Pennsylvania Convention Center. WVU will compete against Penn State, West Chester, Southern Connecticut and Temple.
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