University of Missouri
Illinois
No. 14 Tigers Drop Close Meet at No. 13 Illinois
3/13/2010 12:00:00 AM | Gymnastics
March 13, 2010
Complete Results
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The No. 14 Missouri Tigers (10-3) held the lead after three rotations at No. 13 Illinois (9-7) but could not hold on for the win in the end. Missouri was looking to make it six straight against Illinois but the Illini took the meet 196.200-195.500. Senior All-American Sarah Shire (Columbia, Mo.) finished with an all-around score of 39.550 to take her eighth all-around crown of the season.
Missouri started the away meet on bars with freshman Lauren Swankoski (Chadds Ford, Pa.) posting a 9.650. Senior Danielle Guider (Nutley, N.J.) went next performing a great bars set that earned her a new career high 9.825. Sophomore Allie Heizelman (Cypress, Texas) and senior Becky Scholle (Chesterfield, Mo.) followed with a pair of 9.775s. Closing out the opening rotation for the Tigers was sophomore Mary Burke (Inverness, Ill.) with a 9.800 and Shire with a 9.925. After the first rotation Missouri totaled a 49.100 on bars to take the slight lead over Illinois who scored 49.075 on vault.
Scholle went first for the black and gold on vault and tallied a 9.700 while Swankoski posted a 9.800. Burke held down the middle of the lineup with a 9.825 making way for junior Alex Gold (Plano, Texas) who tied her season high with a 9.850. Shire took the last spot in the rotation with a huge vault that scored 9.900.
At the halfway mark, the contest remained close but the Tigers 49.075 on vault kept them in the lead over the Illini 98.175-98.125.
The Tigers moved to floor where Gold started the rotation with a 9.800 and freshman Tori Howard (Chesterfield, Mo.) followed with the same score. Guider then performed a great routine to the crowd to post a 9.825. Burke followed with a 9.725, which set up a 9.875 from Shire to close out the third rotation for Missouri. Overall, the Tigers scored a 49.025 on floor to keep them in the lead heading into the fourth and final rotation, 147.200-147.125.
Missouri started the beam with a few wobbles but Guider steadied the team with a 9.725 in the middle of the lineup to get the Tigers back on track. Senior Brooke Boehmer (Overland Park, Kan.) helped move the team along with a 9.775. Burke and Shire closed out the meet for Missouri earning a 9.800 and 9.850, respectively. The Tigers stumbles on beam gave them a 48.300 on the last rotation and finished with a 195.500 to Illinois' 196.200.
Shire's win in the all-around made it the 21st of her collegiate career and took top honors on vault, bars and beam as well.
After two straight weeks on the road, the Tigers will return home to the Hearnes Center next Sunday, March 21, for the final regular-season meet of the year. The meet against Centenary College will also mark senior day for four Tiger gymnasts. The meet is scheduled to begin at 2 p.m.
Players Mentioned
