University of Missouri
Auburn
No. 21 Missouri Finishes Third at Auburn Invitational
2/15/2003 12:00:00 AM | Gymnastics
Feb. 15, 2003
Auburn, Ala.-Competing in their second straight quad-meet, the Missouri gymnastics team continues to prove itself in the competitive arena. Going up against No. 15 ranked Auburn (196.300), Mizzou finished third overall in the meet scoring a 194.900 just slipping behind Arkansas' 194.975. Missouri also picks up a victory in the meet, defeating Centenary (192.175). The meet brings the Tigers to a 7-4 season mark.
Opening their meet on the floor exercise, the Tigers pulled through with another consistent performance scoring a 49.050 team total to tie for the 10th-highest program mark. Freshman Lauren Schwartzman continues her reign as Mizzou's floor diva delivering a team high 9.850 routine. Sophomore Alisha Robison scored a 9.825 in just her second floor routine of the year, while junior Andrea Nervig and senior Alina Hamm each posted 9.800 marks for Missouri.
Moving on to the vault, Mizzou maintained its momentum scoring a 48.925 on the apparatus to record the programs third-highest team score in history. Helping to accomplish the feat, Robinson posted her highest vault score of the season hitting a 9.900 vault to take the quad-meet title. Bolstering Robinson's mark, freshman Jodie Heinicka was second on the team scoring a 9.850 to tie for second-place meet honors. Capping off Missouri's scoring onslaught, junior Rachel Bridges scored a 9.825, Hamm scored a 9.725 and Schwartzman recorded a 9.625.
Swinging into their third rotation, Missouri stumbled slightly scoring one its lowest score of the year on the uneven bars. Recording a fall on the apparatus, the Tigers were still able to post a 48.875 team total. Shedding a silver lining on the event, freshman Katie Roets scored her highest routine of her season with a 9.800 performance. She joined Heinicka's career-tying 9.825 presentation to lead the team. Also adding top marks for Mizzou, sophomore Rachael Dombart scored a 9.725 and junior Lauren Owca posted a 9.675.
Following a disappointing showing on the uneven bars, Mizzou rounded out its final event with composure putting up several strong routines. Bridges and Dombart opened the sequence with consecutive 9.750 routines and Hamm scored a 9.775. Finishing off the rotation, Roets posted a 9.775 to record her highest career-mark on the apparatus.
Missouri continues on the road next weekend when it takes on the No. 10 ranked Oklahoma Sooners in Norman, Okla., on Fri., Feb. 21 at 7:00 p.m. The Tigers return home to the Hearnes Center hosting the Corvette Cup on Sun., March 2 at 2:00 p.m. Tickets for the meet are still available in the Hearnes Center ticket office.
