University of Missouri
Georgia
Strong Final Rotation Gives No. 14 @MizzouGym a 195.800-195.350 Win Over No. 9 Georgia
1/22/2016 9:54:00 PM | Gymnastics
The win marked Mizzou’s first SEC dual victory in program history
COLUMBIA Mo. – The No. 14 Mizzou gymnastics earned its first-ever Southeastern Conference dual win as the Tigers posted a 195.800-195.350 win over No. 9 Georgia on Friday, Jan. 22 at Mizzou Arena. Mizzou trailed by 0.950 heading into the final rotation but scored a season best 49.075 on floor to claim the come-from-behind win.
Freshman Britney Ward (Ozark, Mo.) and sophomore Kennedi Harris (Atlanta, Ga.) both claimed event titles in the meet. For the second meet in a row, Ward won both beam (9.900) and vault (9.875), while Harris was first on floor (9.925) for the time in four meets this season.
With the Tigers trailing the Gymdogs by almost a full point, Mizzou outscored Georgia 49.075-47.675 in the final rotation for the win. The floor score marked a season best for the Tigers, led by Harris' career-high tying 9.925 in Mizzou's final routine of the night. Junior Angie Kern (Columbia, Mo.) and freshmen Brooke Kelly (Birmingham, Ala.) and Morgan Porter (Overland, Mo.) all notched 9.825s to bolster the team's event tally.
Mizzou opened the meet with a 48.775 on vault. Ward, who tied three Georgia gymnasts for the event win, posted the Tiger high with a 9.875. In her first collegiate routine, freshman Xarria Lewis (Columbia, Mo.) scored a 9.775 and Harris went 9.750.
In the second rotation, the Tigers scored a 49.025 to mark the third time in four meets the squad reached 49. Kelly paced Mizzou with a team-high 9.850, followed by a 9.825 from Porter and 9.800s from sophomore Becca Schugel (Eagan, Minn.) and freshman Madeleine Huber (St. Louis, Mo.).
The Tigers tallied a 48.925 on beam in the third rotation to keep their deficit within striking distance of the Gymdogs. Ward tied her career-high with a 9.900 on the event for the second week in a row to claim the outright beam title. Additionally, Schugel matched her career-best with a 9.825.
Mizzou travels to Fort Worth, Texas, this weekend to compete in the Metroplex Challenge on Saturday, Jan. 30 at 7 p.m. The Tigers will take on No. 2 Oklahoma, No. 7 LSU, No. 24 Stanford and Washington in the five-team meet.
Players Mentioned
