University of Missouri
Arkansas
#10 Missouri Tops #15 Arkansas
2/13/2004 12:00:00 AM | Gymnastics
Feb. 13, 2004
Columbia, Mo.-The #10 ranked Mizzou gymnastics team kept its superstitions at bay overcoming both bad luck and the #15 Arkansas Razorbacks. Some would consider competing on Friday the 13th an invitation for disaster; the Tigers however dismissed the forecast to score best Arkansas 196.600-195.925.
Keeping up where they left off last weekend, the Tigers tied their all-time vault score tabbing a 49.350 for the second time this season. Leading Mizzou, junior Alisha Robinson tied her Missouri and career-high scoring a 9.975 to win the event.
Maintaining their season consistency, Mizzou's top-four put up scores of 9.825 or above. Amanda Pezzullo (9.825), Rachel Bridges (9.850) and Lauren Schwartzman (9.900) have yet to score below a 9.8 on vault this season hitting 23-of-23 routines in 2004. Rounding out Mizzou's scoring quint, vault specialist Whitney Crater scored a 9.800.
Conditioned to upset the standard, the Tigers knocked down their uneven bars record for the second straight meet. Besting its 49.250 Cat Classic bars title, Mizzou scored a 49.325 to top the Razorbacks. Robinson again led the charge scoring a 9.900 on the apparatus. Bars specialists Jodie Hienicka and Sarah Zigler bolstered the score putting up 9.875s, setting a new career-high for Zigler. Rounding out the Tiger's scoring squad, Lindsay Davis added a 9.850 and Kelley Andersen posted a 9.825.
Bringing some new surprises to the balance beam, the Tigers' upped their competitive skills. Boosting her start value from a 9.9 to a 10.0 value, Pezzullo added a new dismount to her routine to score a 9.725 on the apparatus. Adding another refreshing element to Mizzou's beam performance, Andersen rejoined the lineup after a three meet hiatus to score a 9.775.
Building on the freshman foundation, Davis scored a 9.850 and Schwartzman rounded out the event recording a 9.925-her fifth 9.9+ routine of the year. Despite taking two falls on the apparatus, Mizzou still tallied a 48.675.
Finishing solidly on floor, the Tigers scored a 49.250. Davis opened the round scoring a 9.825 to record her fourth consecutive 9.8+ mark of the year. Pezzullo followed up adding a 9.775 to the tally and Bridges performed a 9.800 routine building up the Tigers final trio. The group didn't disappoint scoring three solid marks. Senior Andrea Nervig scored a 9.875, Robinson recorded 9.850 and Schwartzman rounded out the meet posting a 9.900 to win the event.
Taking the program on the road, Missouri travels to Utah next week to face Utah State, Boise State and Brigham Young. The Tigers join USU and BSU in a tri-meet in Logan on Fri., Feb. 20. Mizzou then takes on the Cougars in Provo on Mon., Feb. 23. Both meets are scheduled to begin at 7:00 p.m., MST.
Players Mentioned
