Jan. 31, 2009

Complete Results

Columbus, Ohio - The No. 13 Missouri Tigers looked nearly unbeatable behind big numbers and season-high performances on the uneven bars that vaulted the squad to a 195.375 first-place finish at their first quad-meet of the season. The Tigers took the title on three out of four events to secure their third win of the year.

Junior Sarah Shire (Columbia, Mo.) took her third all-around title of the year with a 39.225. That performance included her third career high of the year -- a 9.900 on the uneven bars.

Teammate and freshman Mary Burke (Inverness, Ill.) took third place behind a 39.150 -- a season-high all-around total.

No. 15 Illinois took second place overall with a 194.575, while No. 26 Michigan State took third with a 194.500. Host and No. 14 Ohio State rounded out the competition with a 193.825.

The Tigers began the night on floor, a challenging draw. But Missouri brushed off the pressure and posted a 49.025 -- their second highest total on the event this year. Sophomore Alex Gold (Plano, Texas) led things off with a strong showing and a 9.675. Junior Danielle Guider (Nutley, N.J.) pushed Missouri to stronger footing with a 9.750, a new season high. The show really got going with Burke's 9.800 score behind a confident, clean routine. Then it was Shire who lit it up with another 9.900, another season high for the Tigers in the first rotation. Missouri rounded it out with another sparkling performance from senior Adrianne Perry (Columbia, Mo.), who posted her own 9.900 to tie her season high.

Missouri led the pack after the first rotation, but Illinois was just a step back after posting a 49.000 on the uneven bars to start their night.

Then it was off to vault, where Missouri has excelled this year with big performances. Burke got things started with 9.775. Gold took it up in a big way -- landing a clean vault for a 9.900, a new career and season high. Next was sophomore Lauren Stephenson (Kansas City, Mo.) who stuck another big vault for a 9.700. Perry kept the Tigers rolling with a 9.725 while Shire wrapped up the show with an exclamation point and a 9.850.

The competition stiffened on the other events, but the Tigers still held the lead by just over two-tenths going into the third rotation.

The Tigers really shined in their third rotation, the uneven bars, where the squad posted its biggest team total of the season. Freshman Allie Heizelman (Cypress, Texas) gave another strong performance to notch a 9.725, a season high. The final four Tigers put up some of the biggest numbers of the season --Shire posted a 9.900 -- a new career and season high -- behind strong swings, while Perry's confident routine scored a 9.875, a season high for the senior. Burke just kept the momentum rolling with a 9.850, another season high. Hatcher rounded out the Tiger lineup with a 9.800 to put the Missouri total on the event at 49.150.

Ahead of the nearest competition by almost eight-tenths of a point, Missouri headed into the final rotation hoping to cruise through the balance beam.

The pressure was on, but the Tigers took it in stride to finish the meet strong. Burke was up first, hitting a 9.725 to put the Tigers on solid footing, while Brooke Boehmer (Overland Park, Kan.) took it up a notch with a 9.800 -- a season high for the junior. Missouri found its stride in the middle of the lineup behind Hatcher's 9.750 and a 9.550 from Shire. Perry posted a 9.450 to finish off the night for the Tigers.

The Tigers head home for their next meet -- Missouri will take on Southeastern Missouri at 6:30 p.m. next Friday at the Hearnes Center. Doors open at 5 p.m.

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