PISCATAWAY, N.J. - Senior Alise McDonald matched her career with a 39.050 score in the all-around competition as Towson University (18-3) finished first in a quad meet at Rutgers University on Saturday afternoon. The Tigers won the meet with a 193.400 team score to edge Bridgeport (193.200) for the title. Rutgers finished third in the meet with a 192.675 team score while Yale (191.000) was fourth.
McDonald, who was runner-up in the all-around competition behind Brigitte Kivisto of Yale (39.075), had her finest meet of the season at Rutgers. She finished first on vault as she matched her seasonal high 9.90 score. She also tied for eighth place on bars (9.675) and took ninth place (9.625) on balance beam. On floor exercise, McDonald was part of a five-way tie for fourth place with a 9.850 score.
"This was a great performance by our team," said Coach Dick Filbert. "We were missing Kacy Catanzaro (ankle injury) so we needed everyone to step up. We went to vault for our final rotation and we had a great effort on vault. That enabled us to win this meet."
In a very tight meet, the Tigers edged Bridgeport by earning a seasonal high 48.95 score on floor exercise. McDonald led the Tigers' effort on floor exercise with her 9.85 score while Tiger freshman Britney Russell tied for fourth place with a career high 9.85 score. Sophomore Kady Sullivan contributed a career best 9.825 score on floor to place ninth while junior Megan Wooden earned a 9.775 score on floor. Sophomore Alyssa Dittman chipped in with a 9.65 score on floor exercise.
The Tigers were also impressive on vault with a 48.85 team score. While McDonald led the Tigers with a 9.90 score, sophomore Avis Hixon took third place (9.825). Sophomore Lindsay Poplaski and Wooden tied for seventh place on vault with 9.75 scores while Dittman earned a 9.625 score.
Senior Jackie Schweitzer led the Tigers' performances on bars and beam. On bars, she finished second with a seasonal high 9.825 score. In addition to McDonald's 9.675 score on bars, Wooden was tenth with a 9.575 score.
Schweitzer also finished second on beam with a 9.80 score while Poplaski tied for fourth place with a 9.725 score. McDonald and Dittman tied for ninth with 9.625 scores.
The Tigers return to action on Wednesday night with a dual meet at George Washington. Towson closes out the regular season against Southern Connecticut and Yale next Saturday night in the Towson Center.
Team Scores: 1. Towson 193.400; 2. Bridgeport 193.200; 3. Rutgers 192.675; 4. Yale 191.000.
VAULT: 1. Alise McDonald (TOW), 9.900; 2. Monica Mesalles (BPT) 9.875; 3. Avis Hixon (TOW) 9.825; 4. Laura Sevarino (RUT), 9.800; Tiara Land (BPT), 9.800.
BARS: 1. Carissa Huggins (BPT), 9.850; 2. Jackie Schweitzer (TOW), 9.825; 3. Brigitte Kvisto (YALE), 9.800; 4. Prishani Seebardi (RUT), 9.750; Hannah Forti (BPT), 9.750.
BEAM: 1. Allison Mak (YALE), 9.825; 2. Jackie Schweitzer (TOW), 9.800; 3. Laura Sevarino (RUT), 9.775; 4. Emma-Rose Trentacosti (RUT) 9.725; Lindsay Poplaski (TOW) 9.725.
FLOOR: 1. Kiah Banfield (RUT), 9.875; Brigitte Kvisto (YALE), 9.875; Lorraine Galow (BPT), 9.875; 4. Jenna Zito (RUT), 9.850; Britney Russell (TOW), 9.850; Alise McDonald (TOW), 9.850; Tara Feld (YALE), 9.850; Miranda Der (BPT), 9.850.
ALL-AROUND: 1. Brigitte Kivisto (YALE), 39.075; 2. Alise McDonald (TOW), 39.050; 3. Miranda Der (BPT), 38.800; 4. Laura Sevarino (RUT), 38.575; Megan Wooden (TOW), 38.575.
