SEATTLE, Wash. - The top-seeded
team in a solid eight-team field, the Tigers made all 24 routines in
their first round meet at the USA Gymnastics National Meet as they
advanced to Friday night's championship finals with an impressive
194.475 team score. Centenary finished second with a 190.40 team score
while Rutgers (189.95) and Temple (187.50) completed the first round
pool.
Towson and Centenary will be two of the four teams competing for the championship on Friday night at Seattle-Pacific.
Host Seattle Pacific and Texas Woman's College advanced to the
finals from the second session. Seattle Pacific had a 193.450 team
score while Texas Woman's College had a 193.050 score.
Juniors Christina Ghani and Decelia Willacy led the Tigers' performance on vault. Ghani had a 9.85 score while Willacy had a 9.80 score. Freshman Jackie Schweitzer earned a 9.75 score on vault.
At the end of the second session, Ghani had a third place finish on
vault while Willacy finished sixth. Schweitzer tied for seventh place
on vault.
Willacy (9.775) and Ghani (9.725) led the Tigers' performance on
bars. Willacy tied for second place at the end of both sessions and
Ghani was tied for fifth place.
Senior Christine Logan and Schweitzer were
the Tigers' top finishers on beam (9.75). They were part of a four-way
tie for fourth place after the two sessions. Graduate student Jessica Hannah earned a 9.675 on beam as the Tigers earned a 48.225 team score on beam.
Led by Ghani, the Tigers earned a seasonal high 49.05 team score on
floor exercise. Ghani set a career high on floor exercise with a 9.90
score as she finished first in the meet. Freshman Alise McDonald had a career best 9.875 score on floor to finish second while senior Stacie Hogan had a 9.80 score. Willacy (9.75) and Logan (9.725) also contributed to the Tigers' strong performance on floor exercise.
With a 39.025 all-around score, Ghani finished the preliminary
rounds with a first place showing in the all-around. Willacy had a
38.80 all-around score to place fourth while Schweitzer was sixth with
a 38.675 all-around score.
Towson, Seattle Pacific, Texas Woman's College and Centenary will
compete for the USA Gymnastics National title on Friday evening at 7:00
p.m.(PDT).
