|
TWU
Home > Student
Life > Athletics > Gymnastics > 3/16/07
 PIONEERS STRUGGLE IN ARIZONA
TUCSON, Arizona (Mar. 16) – The Texas Woman's University Pioneers recorded a team score of 190.525 and finished fourth in a quad meet at the McKale Center in Tucson, Arizona on Friday night.
The Pioneers low team total was not enough to keep them in contention with their three highly-ranked opponents - #14 Arizona, #16 Penn State and #29 Kentucky.
Penn State won the meet with a score of 196.825. Arizona, the host team, came in second with a 196.65 total. Kentucky's 195.60 put them in third place in front of the Pioneers.
TWU's struggles began on their first event of the night, the uneven bars. Two of the Pioneers first three bar workers fell, and, consequently, the TWU bar total was just 47.000. Senior Courtney Arno tallied the Pioneers best bars score of the night, a 9.775.
The Pioneers could not rebound on beam. Three TWU gymnasts fell, and, despite sophomore Brittany Parker's 9.725 routine, the Pioneers could only muster a 47.425 beam total.
Floor exercise was the only bright spot of the meet for TWU. Five of the Pioneers competitors on floor hit their routines, led by the matching 9.725 scores of freshman Rachel Zimmerman and junior Nicole Poling (pictured). The TWU team floor score was a very respectable 48.275.
The Pioneers final event of the night was vault. Poling again stepped up for TWU, nailing her vault effort and picking up a 9.650 score to help the Pioneers to a vault total of 47.825.
TWU head coach Frank Kudlac shared his thoughts following the meet.
"We were mediocre on all four events tonight, and our score reflected that. I felt like we competed like it was the beginning of the season. I expected a better effort tonight and we just didn't come through. This team needs to learn to compete on the road, that's the bottom line. Hopefully we can learn from our mistakes, have a good week of practice, and bounce back next weekend," he said.
Now 9-12 on the season, TWU will next be in action on Friday, March 23, when they travel to Fayetteville, Arkansas for a 7 p.m. quad meet against Arkansas, Missouri, and Southeast Missouri State.
For additional details, please contact the TWU Sports Information Office at (940) 898 - 2373.
|
