Case captures win for her fourth win of the season on floor exercise

RALEIGH, N.C. – The Kent State gymnastics team took second Friday night in a four-team meet hosted by N.C. State. The host Wolfpack bested the field with a 196.675, while the Golden Flashes tallied a 194.450 mark. Towson took third (193.925) and William and Mary (192.400) rounded out the field.

Kent State kept pace with the nationally-ranked Wolfpack, but N.C. State's standout performance on the beam paired with a low Kent State score on the floor exercise proved to be the difference.

Sophomore Marie Case (Erie, Pa.) was Kent State's lone event winner, as she was the top performer for the floor exercise (9.875). Case finished second in the all-around with a season-best 39.300 thanks to her team-best 9.800 on the balance beam.

In the vault, Kent State posted its highest score of the season (49.125), besting last week's effort against Northern Illinois as all five of the Golden Flashes' scores were in the top eight.

Amiah Mims (Indianapolis, Ind.) and Whitnee Johnson (Columbia, Mo.) each posted team-best scores of 9.850, good for a tie for fourth place overall. Mims' mark was a new personal best, while Johnson tied her career-high set Feb. 11.

Johnson also tied for second overall with a 9.825 on the floor.

Erin Rothrock (York, Pa.) was Kent State's top performer on the uneven bars, earning a 9.825 score, which tied for her best score of the season and was third overall. Case tied for fifth overall with a 9.800.

Kent State is back in action Friday, March 2 when the Golden Flashes take on in-state foe Ohio State in Columbus, Ohio, for a 7 p.m. meet.