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No. 25 Mountaineers Sweep Pitt
March 13, 2016 04:11 PM | Gymnastics
PITTSBURGH, Pa. – For the second time in less than 48 hours, the No. 25-ranked West Virginia University gymnastics team earned a big win against its regional rival, defeating Pitt, 195.825-195.675, at Fitzgerald Field House.
Today’s score is the Mountaineers’ second-best road mark of the season. WVU tallied 195.0 or better in all but one road competition this year, a first under fifth-year coach Jason Butts.
“I threw everything I could at the team this season, and they still closed out the regular season with a solid performance,” Butts explained. “We were road warriors this year, and I was happy with the fight I saw today. We are in a great place right now. We need to rest, and that’s our goal this week.”
The Mountaineers (10-6, 0-3) made the most of their one team event win today, as the squad rode a 49.05-48.625 advantage on vault to victory. Pitt edged WVU on bars (48.7-48.625), beam (48.925-48.85) and floor (49.425-49.3).
Freshman Tiara Wright had a career-defining performance today, finishing first on two events and scoring career highs on bars (9.9), beam (9.85) and floor (9.8).
“We recruited Tiara for a reason – this type of performance,” Butts explained. “The coaches knew she was capable of this kind of day, and I’m so happy to see this. She’s working hard and buying into the system, and it’s paying off.”
Wright highlighted the Mountaineers’ bars lineup in the first rotation. The Wilmington, Delaware, native matched her career-high score of 9.9 and placed first. Sophomore Zaakira Muhammad scored 9.825, her best mark since earning 9.85 on Feb. 14, and finished second overall. Sophomore Robyn Bernard opened the rotation with a 9.725, her third-best score of the year, and placed fifth. Classmate Jordan Gillette anchored the rotation with a 9.625 score.
The Mountaineers tallied 49.05 on vault in the second rotation, matching their second-best road score of the year. A trio of gymnasts all scored 9.85 and tied for the event win: Muhammad, senior Jaida Lawrence and freshman Kirah Koshinksi. The mark is a season high for Lawrence. Bernard and sophomore Alexa Goldberg opened the rotation with 9.75s, good enough for fifth place; the score is a career high for Goldberg.
WVU kept its momentum going in the third rotation, using five scores of 9.8 or better to tally 49.3 on floor, its best road score of the season. Koshinski tied for second with a 9.9, her second-best score of the season and her career-best road score. Muhammad and senior Melissa Idell tied for fifth place with 9.875s, the third-best score of the day, and freshman Jaquie Tun placed seventh with a career-high 9.85. Additionally, Wright matched her career-high score of 9.8, and Gillette opened the rotation with a 9.775.
WVU clinched its crucial road win with a 48.85 on beam. Competing in the lineup’s fifth position, Wright concluded her career-best day with a winning, season-high 9.85 mark. Senior Audrey Tolbert finished fifth with a 9.825; the mark was the second-highest score awarded today. Idell placed sixth with a 9.8. Goldberg opened the rotation with a 9.725.
Of note, Muhammad finished third overall with a score of 38.75.
With today’s win, WVU pushes its commanding series advantage to 57-12-2.
The Mountaineers next compete at the Big 12 Gymnastics Championship, set for Saturday, March 19, at the Dr. Pepper Arena in Frisco, Texas. Competition will begin at 5 p.m. EST.
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