NORMAN, Okla. – Despite a season-high road score, the No. 23-ranked West Virginia University gymnastics team fell, 197.9-195.25, to No. 2 Oklahoma, this afternoon inside the Lloyd Noble Center.

 

Competing for the second time in three days, the Mountaineers (2-4, 0-3) recorded their second straight 195.0+ road mark and their fourth overall of the season. WVU earned a 195.2 score in a loss at Iowa State on Feb. 5.  

 

 

“I’m very happy that we were able to put up two solid road scores in one weekend – this type of travel weekend was a first for the program, and I thought we responded well,” coach Jason Butts said. “However, I thought we underperformed today. I know we’re a better team, but this weekend was a good confidence builder. I think if we can get through this experience, then we can perform better in future meets. Currently, the momentum isn’t building as quickly as I would like, but we’re in a much better spot than we were in previous seasons.”

 

The Sooners (13-1, 2-0) swept the Mountaineers on all four events: vault (49.375-49.0), uneven bars (49.5-48.8), balance beam (49.425-48.7) and floor (49.6-48.75).

 

“We are just still performing timid, and I don’t like that,” Butts said. “We have to be more aggressive. I know the team is tired today, but I really believe we gave away a 196.0+ score.”

 

WVU opened the meet with a solid showing on bars, scoring 48.8, its top road mark of the season. Junior Alexa Goldberg again paced the team, scoring 9.825 and finishing in sixth place. The Ivyland, Pennsylvania, native has not scored below 9.825 this season. Sophomores Zaakira Muhammad and Jordan Gillette each scored 9.775 and tied for seventh place; today was the collegiate bars debut for Gillette. Additionally, freshman Jaquie Tun added a 9.75, matching her season-best mark.

 

The Mountaineers built momentum in the second rotation, hitting their fourth 49.0+ mark of the season and scoring 49.0, pushing their two-even total to 97.8. Muhammad and freshman Kirah Koshinski anchored the rotation with matching 9.85s and tied for third place. Senior Jaida Lawrence preceded the duo and matched her season high with a 9.825 score. Freshman Sarah Moore and sophomore Robyn Bernard added 9.75 and 9.725 marks, respectively.

 

Fueled by season-high road scores from four gymnasts, WVU hit for a solid 48.75 on floor in the third rotation, giving the team a 146.55 running total. Koshinski paced the team with a career-best 9.85 road mark, good enough for sixth place. Muhammad preceded her in the lineup and tallied a 9.825 for the second straight meet. Senior Melissa Idell opened the rotation with a 9.775, her best road mark of the year, while Gillette and Tun added 9.65s.

 

The Mountaineers finished the meet with a 48.7 showing on beam. Senior Audrey Tolbert highlighted the rotation, as she competed fourth in the lineup and earned a career-high 9.8 mark, the meet’s fifth-best score, and finished in seventh place. Gillette anchored the rotation with a 9.775 score, while Koshinski added a 9.75 and Moore and Idell each tallied 9.7.

 

“Jordan had a solid day in her first career three-event meet,” Butts added. “She hit her beam routine and secured our 195.0+ score, and that was big for us.”

 

WVU did not compete in the all-around for the second straight meet. OU’s Chayse Capps finished first with a 39.625 score.

 

With the loss, WVU falls to 1-11 all-time against the Sooners.  

 

The Mountaineers return to the road next weekend, as the team travels to Tuscaloosa, Alabama, for a meet at No. 4 Alabama on Sunday, Feb. 14. The contest is set to begin at 4 p.m. EST inside Coleman Coliseum.