Feb. 22, 2013
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IOWA CITY, Iowa — The University of Iowa women’s gymnastics team upset No. 12 Minnesota, 195.725-195.550, in Carver-Hawkeye Arena on Friday night. The Hawkeyes hit 24 for 24 routines and finished with a 49.225 floor performance to sew up the win. Minnesota was undefeated before falling to Iowa.
“We try to build every week,” said head coach Larissa Libby. “We are better than we showed on vault and bars, but the team kept building. With each person, the routines got a little cleaner, stronger and more confident. The best thing is that you could see the trust the team had in one another.”
University of Minnesota freshman Lindsay Mable won the all-around competition, scoring 39.400. Sophomore Emma Willis earned second (39.300), sophomore Sydney Hoerr placed third (39.050), and freshman Alie Glover finished fifth (38.875).
“We focused on the details and keeping the energy up, and that has helped us stay undefeated at home,” said Willis. “We all did a great job closing on floor tonight. There’s only place to go from here, and that’s up. We’re building as a team and learning from each other, and that will only help us from here.”
Iowa started on the vault, earning 48.875. Willis won the event, matching her career-high 9.900. Senior Maya Wickus earned 9.825, and freshman Kyra Trowbridge posted 9.750. Iowa also counted a pair of 9.700s from freshman Adara Griffin and Glover. The Gophers trailed the Hawkeyes (48.350) on the bars.
The Hawkeyes moved to the bars and posted 48.900, while the Gophers gained ground on vault (49.150). Senior Emma Stevenson and Willis paced Iowa with 9.825. Hoerr earned 9.800, and senior Kaitlynn Urano posted 9.750. Glover and Wickus contributed a pair of 9.700s. Despite Minnesota’s strong vault showing, Iowa held the lead, 97.775-97.500.
Iowa hit six for six routines on beam, scoring 48.725. Hoerr and Urano led the Hawkeyes (9.775), Trowbridge recorded 9.750, and sophomore Caitlin Tanzer scored a career-best 9.725. Iowa also counted Willis’ 9.700. Minnesota took the lead after tallying a 49.175 on floor (147.675-146.500).
In the final rotation, Iowa totaled 49.225 on the floor, while Minnesota scored 48.875 on beam. The Hawkeyes’ performance was enough to overcome the Gophers. Stevenson anchored with a season-best 9.900 for first place. Willis earned 9.875, and Trowbridge posted 9.850. Glover and Hoerr contributed 9.800.
“This win will give them the confidence they need to compete against the best,” said Libby. “Before tonight, we built up our score but never got that significant clutch win. Tonight will help them move forward and approach a top team like Nebraska. I am extremely pleased that this was the result of a really tough week.”
The GymHawks will travel to Lincoln, Neb., to take on No. 9 Nebraska on Monday, March 4. Action is scheduled to start at 6 p.m. (CT) in the Devaney Center.