Jan. 25, 2008
Lincoln, Neb. - In what was a pivotal match up for the No. 14 Missouri Gymnastics squad, the Tigers were able to post a season high score of 195.350, but fell just short of topping the Huskers as the Tigers were edged 195.350 - 196.675. The Tigers featured three all-arounders in the event, all of which topped the 39.000 plateau. Junior Adrianne Perry (Columbia, Mo.) led the Tigers with a 39.450.
"I think the team is progressing," Drass said. "We haven't seen the team that we have seen in practice all season. I know we can put up a 196 every night and be a top-10 team, but we just need to compete with more confidence during a meet and compete like the team that we know we are."
The Tigers put up a 48.400, a season high on bars during the first rotation. Kicking off the meet, and her birthday celebration, senior Ashley Khederian (Carlisle, Mass.) got things started for the Tigers, posting a 9.775, just .025 off of her career high. Sarah Shire (Columbia, Mo.) put up a 9.825, a new career high. Shire had posted a 9.600 in both meets prior to Saturday.
Perry notched a 9.850, her season high on the uneven bars. Fellow junior Alicia Hatcher (Blue Springs, Mo.), fresh off of a bars title versus Iowa State, put up a 9.875, tying her career high set last year at Pittsburgh.
Heading into what has been their best event all season, the vault, the Tigers trailed the Huskers 48.400 - 49.425. Needing a big score, the Tigers delivered, posting a 48.900. Perry, put up a team best 9.900 on vault, scoring big points to keep the Tigers close through the first two rotations.
After scoring a career high on bars, Shire wasn't too far from her career best mark on vault, posting a 9.850. Freshman Alex Gold (Plano, Texas) continued what has already been a great first year on the vault, posting a 9.800. Gold has posted a 9.800 or better in her first three meets as a Tiger. Khederian kept up her stellar performance, notching a 9.750 on vault.
Heading into the third rotation, the Tigers trailed 97.300 - 98.650. In her first appearance in the floor lineup this season, Hatcher nearly matched her personal record with a 9.725, just .025 off of her career high. The birthday girl, Khederian, scored a 9.800 on floor, continuing her great meet.
Perry and Shire, the hometown products, continued to shine on floor. Shire posted a 9.900 while Perry finished just behind her with a 9.850. Shire's score of 9.900 is a new career high, topping her previous best of 9.875, a score she tallied in each of the first two meets this season. In all, the Tigers posted a 48.950 on floor, keeping them close to the Huskers.
Behind the Huskers 146.250 - 147.625, the Tigers headed to the beam. With a 49.100, the Tigers posted their best event score of the night on the beam. Sophomore Danielle Guider (Nutley, N.J.) had her best outing of the season on the beam. Posting a 9.725, Guider topped her previous season best of 9.550. Khederian earned a score of 9.800 on beam, moving her to 39.125, giving her a birthday present of a new personal best in the all-around.
The Tigers continued their personal record setting as sophomore Brooke Boehmer (Overland Park, Kan.) tallied a 9.850 on beam. Boehmer, who spent last season recovering from an ACL injury has been a bright point in the beam lineup this season. Hatcher tallied her best mark on beam this season with a 9.875. Perry a 9.850, solidifying her second place finish in the all-around.
The Tigers return home for their next two meets, playing host to Illinois-Chicago on Feb. 1 and hosting the second annual "Beauty and the Beast" on Feb. 8. Doors for both events will be at 6:30.