Feb. 29, 2008
IOWA CITY – Iowa once again dominated competition tonight as they beat the Gophers, 195.900-194.725. The Hawkeyes had winners on vault, beam, floor and in the all-around. Jenifer Simbhudas was Iowa’s top all-around performer and team leader tonight with a career-best 39.450.
Iowa started off strongly scoring a season-best 49.1 on vault claiming the top four spots. Jenifer Simbhudas was Iowa’s top scorer in the event with a season-best 9.875 to place first which is also Iowa’s top individual vault score this season. Katie Burke and Kara Pinjuv were Iowa’s next highest scorers, tying for second place with a 9.85, which tied career-best vault scores for both. Freshman Rebecca Simbhudas tied for fourth with Minnesota’s Jade Beattie, scoring 9.8. Houry Gebeshian and Brandi Loffer rounded out Iowa’s vault competitors, tying for seventh with a 9.725.
The Hawkeyes maintained the lead after the second rotation despite a tough time on bars. Iowa scored a team total 48.575 in the event while Jenifer Simbhudas earned the Hawkeyes’ highest score with a 9.825 to place second which ties her career-best beam score. Gebeshian was Iowa’s next best competitor in the event earning a 9.725 to tie for sixth with Minnesota’s Alexis Russell and Kendra Elm. Freshman Arielle Sucich competing in only her second meet as a Hawkeye placed ninth, scoring 9.7.
Moving on to beam Iowa scored a team total 49.0. Gebeshian was again Iowa’s star tonight, scoring 9.9 for the second time this season to place first in the event. Sisters Jenifer and Rebecca Simbhudas were Iowa’s next top scorers in the event, tying for third place with a 9.8. Loffer placed fifth with a 9.775 while Burke and Pinjuv scored 9.725 to tie for seventh.
Finishing up on floor, Iowa kept the lead and saw great performances. Scoring a season-best team total 49.225 the Hawkeyes were led by Jenifer Simbhudas. She earned the team’s highest season score with a 9.95 to finish first. The score was also enough to improve Simbhudas’ career-best score in the event. Burke finished second with a 9.875 while Pinjuv placed third scoring 9.825. Brandi Loffer also had a great floor performance, scoring 9.8 to finish fourth.
In the all-around, Iowa’s second best competitor behind Jenifer Simbhudas was Burke, scoring 39.125 to tie for second with Minnesota’s Carmelina Carabajal. Loffer placed fourth with a 38.950 while Gebeshian scored 38.350 to place sixth.
“I’m excited because when competing against Big Ten teams you want to be on equal ground. You don’t want an opposing team to say you won because they had falls or mistakes. Both teams made mistakes tonight and we still came out on top,” said Iowa Head Coach Larissa Libby. “We faced a poised Minnesota team but our team became more focused and more competitive after they made mistakes. Our team has grown and become more resilient as this season has continued.”
Iowa will travel to Denton, TX for Sunday’s competition at Texas Woman’s University. The meet will take place at Pioneer Hall and is set to begin at 2 p.m.
Final Team Scores Team Vault Bars Beam Floor Total1. #23 Iowa 49.100 48.575 49.000 49.225 195.9002. #27 Minnesota 48.575 48.850 48.475 48.825 194.725
Individual Results: Vault (winner plus Iowa)1. Jenifer Simbhudas (Iowa) 9.8752t. Katie Burke (Iowa) 9.8502t. Kara Pinjuv (Iowa) 9.8504t. Rebecca Simbhudas (Iowa) 9.8007t. Brandi Loffer (Iowa) 9.7257t. Houry Gebeshian (Iowa) 9.725 Uneven Bars (winner plus Iowa)1. Kristin Furukawa (Minnesota) 9.8502. Jenifer Simbhudas (Iowa) 9.8256t. Houry Gebeshian (Iowa) 9.7259. Arielle Sucich (Iowa) 9.70010. Katie Burke (Iowa) 9.67511. Brandi Loffer (Iowa) 9.65012. Rebecca Simbhudas (Iowa) 9.250 Balance Beam (winner plus Iowa)1. Houry Gebeshian (Iowa) 9.9003t. Rebecca Simbhudas (Iowa) 9.8003t. Jenifer Simbhudas (Iowa) 9.8005. Brandi Loffer (Iowa) 9.7757t. Katie Burke (Iowa) 9.7257t. Kara Pinjuv (Iowa) 9.725 Floor Exercise (winner plus Iowa)1. Jenifer Simbhudas (Iowa) 9.9502. Katie Burke (Iowa) 9.8753. Kara Pinjuv (Iowa) 9.8254t. Brandi Loffer (Iowa) 9.8007t. Jenny Donar (Iowa) 9.775 All-Around (winner plus Iowa)1. Jenifer Simbhudas (Iowa) 39.4502t. Katie Burke (Iowa) 39.1254. Brandi Loffer (Iowa) 38.9506. Houry Gebeshian (Iowa) 38.350="https://hawkeyesports.com/http:%3E%3C/ahref="http:>="https://hawkeyesports.com/http:%3E%3C/ahref="http:>="https://hawkeyesports.com/http:%3E%3C/ahref="http:>="https://hawkeyesports.com/http:%3E%3C/ahref="http:>="https://hawkeyesports.com/http:%3E%3C/ahref="http:>="https://hawkeyesports.com/http:%3E%3C/ahref="http:>="https://hawkeyesports.com/http:%3E%3C/ahref="http:>="https://hawkeyesports.com/http:%3E%3C/ahref="http:>="https://hawkeyesports.com/http:%3E%3C/ahref="http:>="https://hawkeyesports.com/http:%3E%3C/ahref="http:>="https://hawkeyesports.com/http:%3E%3C/ahref="http:>
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