Feb. 8, 2013
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IOWA CITY, Iowa — The Iowa women’s gymnastics team earned a season-high 195.875 to defeat Big Ten rival Michigan State (194.850) and Illinois-Chicago (193.225) on Friday night. The Hawkeyes swept the bars, beam, floor and all-around titles, while Michigan State senior Taira Neal won the vault (9.825).
“They had an edge tonight,” said head coach Larissa Libby. “They came out of that tunnel, and flipped the switch. It was the first time that we saw that overall team confidence and trust in each other. This was expected, and now they need to get that much better. They came up short on the first event, but they built momentum on the back three events. We need to take the lead on the first event and establish ourselves.”
Freshman Alie Glover won the all-around with a career-high 39.050. Illinois-Chicago senior Chantel Turk and Michigan State freshman Lisa Burt tied for second with 38.925. Sophomore Emma Willis captured the bar title (9.875), and sophomore Jessica Morreale took the beam title (9.875). Willis and freshman Kyra Trowbridge shared first place on the floor (9.900).
“Alie trains consistently and competes the same way,” said Libby. “Tonight she upped her game and did everything possible to win. I am so proud of Alie, and I think she will only get better from here.”
Iowa started the meet on the vault, earning 48.650. Senior Maya Wickus, Trowbridge and Willis led the way with a triplet of 9.750s. The Hawkeyes also counted a 9.725 from freshman Alyssa Lopez and a 9.675 from Glover.
In the second rotation, Iowa moved to the bars and totaled a season-high 49.175. Willis paced the Hawkeyes with a career-high 9.875, and senior Emma Stevenson followed with 9.850. Sophomore Sydney Hoerr and Glover added 9.825 to the team score.
The Hawkeyes competed confidently on the beam, earning another season-high (48.775). Morreale led the way with a career-high 9.875. Hoerr posted 9.800, Glover earned 9.750, and senior Kaitlynn Urano added 9.725. Iowa also counted Trowbridge’s 9.625.
Iowa sealed the win with an outstanding floor performance. The Hawkeyes tallied a season-high 49.275, including a pair of 9.900s from Trowbridge and Willis. Stevenson posted 9.850, Hoerr scored 9.825, and Glover added 9.825.
Next week the GymHawks travel to Champaign, Ill. to face Illinois on Saturday, Feb. 16. Action is scheduled to start at 4 p.m. CT inside Huff Hall.