Jan. 29, 2000
LINCOLN, NEB ___ -- First-year Missouri gymnastics coach Rob Drass, a former assistant coach at Nebraska, said it all week - his Tigers needed to put a complete meet together. Apparently they listened to his message. Led by senior Shannon Brown, Mizzou (2-5) posted its highest road score in school history in a close 195.7-to-194.325 loss at No. 7 Nebraska (8-3).
"I'm just ecstatic," Drass said. "It was a complete team effort. I'm just thrilled with our performance. This should be a huge confidence boost for this team. To come in here and hang with one of the best team's in the country should show us that there are brighter days ahead, that this is the type of performance we can expect every time out."
Brown set a career high with a 39.15 score in the all-around and established her season bests in the vault (9.65), uneven bars (9.85) and floor exercise (9.85). She scored 9.8 on the balance beam to tie for fourth place. She also tied for fourth on floor and tied for second on bars. Her all-around score was the second best in school history, and just off the record score of 39.175 set by Amanda Peterson at last year's Cat Classic.
Drass said the Tigers rebounded from adversity, too. Prior to Mizzou's first rotation, Brown discovered she'd left her uneven bars grips in the dressing room. Delaying the start of the Tigers' on bars, Brown dashed back to recover them. Later, freshman Laura Anson ripped one of her grips in half while warming up, and had to borrow one from teammate Jacqueline Coatsworth.
"After that," Drass said, "we didn't look back."
The Tigers also benefited from the best meet of senior Katie Cole's career. She set career bests of 9.825 on both vault and floor. Cole placed second in the vault and tied for sixth on the floor.
Freshmen played a big part in the Missouri performance. Jacqueline Coatsworth scored 9.8 on both bars and beam, tying for fourth place on beam and placing sixth on bars. Laura Anson scored a season-best 9.825 on bars and tied for fourth place. Columbia native Laura Forbes competed for the first time as a Tiger and scored 9.575 on floor, probably earning her a spot in the Mizzou lineup.
Missouri posted its best score of the season in every event - vault (48.425), bars (48.25), beam (48.8) and floor (48.85). The Tigers team score of 194.325 was the third highest score in school history. Their previous best on the road was a score of 193.775 at Iowa in 1997.
Nebraska was led by freshman A.J. Lamb who won the all-around with a score of 39.425. She also took titles on bars (9.875), beam (9.9) and floor (9.925). Cornhusker All-American Heather Brink won the vault (9.925). Without Lamb having the meet of her life, Missouri could have won for its first time in Lincoln, Neb.
The Tigers return home to Hearnes Center to host the 20th annual Cat Classic, next Friday and Saturday. Pittsburgh, Northern Illinois and Southeast Missouri State will be teams competing against the defending champion Tigers. Competition each night begins at 7 p.m. Tickets are on sale at the MU Athletic Ticket Office, 1-800-CAT-PAWS or 884-PAWS (in Columbia). Single-night and two-night passes are available.
MISSOURI TIGERS at NEBRASKA CORNHUSKERS Saturday, January 29, 2000 Bob Devaney Center Lincoln, Neb.VAULT 1. Heather Brink, NE 9.925 2. Katie Cole, Missouri 9.825 3. Jen French, NE 9.8 4. Amy Ringo, NE 9.775 5. A.J. Lamb, NE 9.725 Nicole Wilkinson, NE 9.725
UNEVEN PARALLEL BARS 1. A.J. Lamb, NE 9.9 2. Shannon Brown, Missouri 9.85 Nicole Wilkinson, NE 9.85 4. Laura Anson, Missouri 9.825 Jess Wertz, NE 9.825 6. Jacq. Coatsworth, MU 9.8
BALANCE BEAM 1. A.J. Lamb, NE 9.9 2. Alison Akers, Missouri 9.875 3. Nicole Wilkinson, NE 9.85 4. Shannon Brown, Missouri 9.8 Jacq. Coatsworth, MU 9.8 Heather Brink, NE 9.8 Laura Goss, NE 9.8 Amy Ringo, NE 9.8
FLOOR EXERCISE 1. A.J. Lamb, NE 9.925 2. Heather Brink, NE 9.875 Julie Houk, NE 9.875 4. Shannon Brown, Missouri 9.85 Jess Wertz, NE 9.85 6. Katie Cole, Missouri 9.825 Jen French, NE 9.825
ALL-AROUND 1. A.J. Lamb, NE 39.425 2. Shannon Brown, Missouri 39.15 3. Heather Brink, NE 38.475 4. Meggen Smiley, Missouri 37.975
VAULT, TEAM 1. Nebraska 48.95 2. Missouri 48.425
UNEVEN PARALLEL BARS, TEAM 1. Missouri 48.25 Nebraska 48.25
BALANCE BEAM, TEAM 1. Nebraska 49.15 2. Missouri 48.8
FLOOR EXERCISE, TEAM 1. Nebraska 49.35 2. Missouri 48.85
TEAM TOTALS 1. Nebraska 195.7 2. Missouri 194.325
Attendance: 1813