University of Missouri
Oklahoma
Tigers Drop a Close Meet to No. 6 Sooners
2/22/2008 12:00:00 AM | Gymnastics
Feb. 22, 2008
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Columbia, Mo. - Despite another great effort from the entire team, the No. 13 Tigers dropped to 5-2 on the season as they lost to No. 6 Oklahoma 195.750 - 196.075. The Tigers score was the second highest of the season and the Tigers came within a just a few steps of topping the sixth-ranked team in the nation.
The high point of the meet came as the all-around scores were announced. With No. 3 Kiara Redmond-Sturms competing for the Sooners, two Tigers bested one of the best all-arounders in the nation. Junior Adrianne Perry (Columbia, Mo.) won the meet title, scoring a 39.375 while sophomore Sarah Shire (Columbia, Mo.) finished just behind her with a 39.325. Redmond-Sturms finished with a 39.300. Shire claimed the vault and beam titles, giving her 17 on the season, placing her second in the Big 12 behind only Redmond-Sturms.
"We have two of the best all-arounders in the nation, right in our own backyard," Head Coach Rob Drass said. "When the No. 3 ranked girl comes in here, and we have two of our girls beat her, it just shows how good our girls really are."
In the first rotation, the Tigers posted a 48.800 on vault to kick off the meet. Shire, ranked 19th in the nation on vault, posted a team high 9.900 on the event, tying her career high, set last year at Utah. Shire went on to win the event topping Oklahoma's Mary Mantle, who put up a 9.850. Perry, ranked 18th on vault, wasn't too far behind Shire, putting up a 9.825 on the vault. Senior Ashley Khederian (Carlisle, Mass.) continued her consistency this season as she scored a 9.750, while freshman Lauren Stephenson (Kansas City, Mo.) finished just behind her with a 9.725.
Heading into bars, the Tigers trailed the Sooners 49.025 - 48.800, but the Tigers put themselves back in contention with a 48.875 on bars. Led by junior Alicia Hatcher's (Blue Springs, Mo.) 9.875, the Tigers bars score was the second highest of the season. Hatcher placed second on the event behind only Redmond-Sturms. Perry posted a 9.825, placing her fourth.
The Tigers trailed 97.675 - 97.950, but made up some ground in a hurry, pulling together for their best beam score of the season, a 49.150. All five Tigers counted in the final scores put up a 9.775 or better, led by Shire's 9.900. Perry and Hatcher both posted a score of 9.850 while Danielle Guider (Nutley, N.J.) and Brooke Boehmer (Overland Park, Kan.) scored a 9.775.
The Tigers trailed by just .200 heading into the final rotation, but fell just short on floor, tallying a 48.925. Perry posted a 9.875, leading the Tigers on the event. Shire, ranked 8th on floor, kept true to her reputation as well, posting a 9.825.
Next up for the Tigers will be the 28th Annual Cat Classic at the Hearnes Center next Friday, Feb. 29 at 6:30. No. 4 Michigan, No. 20 Ohio State and Cal will be on hand in one of the top collegiate gymnastics events in the country. Stay tuned to www.mutigers.com for all the latest on the Tiger Gymnastics.
Players Mentioned
