Kent State University
Northern Illinois
Golden Flashes Impress on Balance Beam at NIU Tri-Meet
1/29/2017 6:14:00 PM | Gymnastics
DEKALB, Ill. – Kent State won two of the four events in placing second in Sunday's tri-meet at Northern Illinois. The host Huskies posted a 194.425 to edge out the Golden Flashes' score of 194.375. Southeast Missouri earned a 190.500 to finish third.
Kent State (2-4, 1-1 MAC) posted a season-high 49.075 on beam and matched last week's season-high of 48.775 on vault to win each event. The Flashes faltered, however, on floor (48.100) and bars (48.425) despite entering the meet ranked 6th and 16th in the country, respectively.
"We're very disappointed we lost today," said head coach Brice Biggin. "We felt like we didn't go out there and accomplish our goal and let one slip away. We struggled with dismounts on bars and only stuck one out of six. When you lose by a half of a tenth of a point, all you needed to do was stick one more dismount."
After having to count a fall in each of the first two meets of the year, the Flashes' 49.075 is the best in the Mid-American Conference and the team's best since March 18, 2015. It was a 0.850 improvement from last week's score.
"We fixed some things on beam and are very pleased with how our girls competed over there," Biggin added.
Five gymnasts earned their best beam score of the season. Junior Rachel Stypinski anchored the lineup with a 9.925 to win the event and tie for the sixth-best score in program history. Sophomore Kennedy Plude (9.850) and senior Milena Fabry (9.825) earned career-high scores to finish tied for third and fifth, respectively. Junior Ali Marrero (9.800) and sophomore Sarah Lippowitsch (9.675) rounded out the beam lineup.
Senior Jordan Hardison set a new career-high 9.825 to tie for first on vault. Sophomore Dara Williams tied for third with a score of 9.800 with Plude earning a 9.775 to finish in a tie for fifth.
Hardison also led the Flashes on floor with a 9.800 to finish second. Freshman Jade Brown and senior Skyelee Lamano both earned a 9.725 to tie for fifth.
Junior Michaela Romito led the way on bars with a 9.750 to tie for fifth. Junior Brooke Timko and Williams were right behind with a 9.725 to tie for seventh.
Beauty and the Beast makes its return on Saturday, February 4 at 2 p.m. as the gymnastics team takes on #25 West Virginia while the wrestling team tangles with #1 Oklahoma State.
"We have a big meet this weekend and need to have people step up and fill into some spots until we get healthy," Biggin sad.
Be sure to follow the Kent State gymnastics team on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook for news and updates about the squad.
Final Results
1. Northern Illinois 194.425
2. Kent State 193.375
3. Southeast Missouri 190.500
Individual Event Winners
Vault: Jordan Hardison (KSU), Ashley Potts (NIU) – 9.825
Bars: Jamyra Carter (NIU) – 9.850
Beam: Rachel Stypinski (KSU) – 9.925
Floor: Anna Martucci (NIU) – 9.850
All-Around: Alexis Brawner (SEMO), Ashley Potts (NIU) – 39.000
Players Mentioned
