University of Missouri
Nebraska
#12 Mizzou Falls to #13 Nebraska
1/31/2004 12:00:00 AM | Gymnastics
Jan. 31, 2004
Lincoln, Neb. - The #12 ranked Mizzou gymnastics team had another record setting night, despite falling to #13 Nebraska. The Cornhuskers topped the Tigers 197.750-195.650. Although the loss drops Missouri to 2-2 on the year with an 0-2 deficit in the Big 12 Conference, the Tigers' final tally keeps Mizzou contending with the nation's best teams. In addition, Mizzou's 195.650 final ranks as the Tigers' eighth highest team score.
Opening the meet, senior Lindsay Davis got Missouri started scoring a 9.775 on bars to record her highest mark of the season. Mizzou faltered briefly taking two falls on the apparatus before sophomore Sarah Zigler got the Tigers back on track scoring a 9.825 in her first competitive meet with the black and gold.
Riding on her momentum, Alisha Robinson repeated the score adding to the Missouri tally and leading in Mizzou's bar specialist Andrea Nervig who scored a team high 9.900 on the apparatus.
Adding an extra highlight to the 48.600 team effort, sophomore Jodie Heinicka performed a nearly flawless routine in the exhibition. Working her way back into the lineup following her season ending knee injury last year, Heinicka looks to return to the competitive lineup.
Leaving the team's weakest event behind, Mizzou advanced to the vault where the Tigers settled into their standard momentum hitting routines. After wavering on bars, Roets recouped her forces to score a career-high scoring a 9.775. Paving the way, her teammates followed her lead scoring five consecutive 9.8+ vaults. Freshmen Whitney Crater, Amanda Pezzullo and Lauren Schwartzman added 9.850 marks while senior Rachel Bridges added a 9.825.
Rounding out the Tigers' competitive six, Robinson upped her career-high scoring a 9.975. The mark tops her own Missouri all-time record on the apparatus and establishes a new junior high. Bolstering the Mizzou team score, Robinson's 9.975 guided Missouri to setting another team event record boosting the Tigers to a 49.300 all-time high.
Moving to the floor exercise, Missouri recorded a 48.850. Backing the Tigers, the Mizzou senior class let the team. Bridges scored a 9.850 while Davis recorded a 9.800 routine.
Rounding out the meet on balance beam, the Tigers rallied to a 48.850. Robinson and freshman Miranda Boekman led the charge scoring the team's highest marks on the apparatus. Robinson scored a 9.850, while Boeckman recorded a 9.800-her second 9.8+ of the season.
Looking to keep their momentum on their home turf, the Tigers return home to Columbia to host the 2004 Cat Classic. Missouri welcomes the BYU Cougars, Kentucky Wildcats and Penn State Lions to the two-day competition Fri.-Sat., Feb. 6-7. Mimicking the NCAA Championships, Missouri hosts a team competition on Friday night followed by an individual championship on Saturday. Both competitions will begin at 7:00 p.m.
Tiger Notables
* In four meets this season, Rachel Bridges, Lauren Schwartzman, Alisha Robinson and Amanda Pezzullo have yet to score below a 9.8 on vault hitting 15-of-15 vaults in 2004.
* Senior Andrea Nervig has set herself apart as one of the Tiger's most consistent performers. In each of her four bar routines this season, she has scored over a 9.825 including a career and program high scoring a 9.925 against Iowa State.
Players Mentioned
