University of Missouri
Iowa State
Tigers Drop Heartbreaker at Iowa State
1/21/2011 12:00:00 AM | Gymnastics
Jan. 21, 2011
Ames, Iowa--A crowd of 5,970 gathered at the Hilton Coliseum to watch Iowa State's fourth annual Beauty and the Beast competition. The Cyclone grapplers took on Oklahoma while Mizzou and Iowa State gymnasts went head-to-head. The Tigers recorded their second highest score of the season, but they were not able to keep up with the Cyclones, falling 195.250-194.550.
Mary Burke earned her second all-around title this season, scoring 39.200 above ISU's Michelle Shealy who put up a 39.125. The title is the third of Burke's career, and it is her second, consecutive award this season. Alex Gold came in third in the all-around, posting a 38.700.
For the first time this season the Tigers began the meet on the uneven bars. Sophomore Lauren Swankoski was in the lead-off position, sticking her dismount to earn a 9.625. Senior Alex Gold stuck hers as well to pull in a 9.700 followed by a 9.675 from Sandra Ostad Freshman Taylor Medrea matched her career high 9.750, and Allie Heizelman set a new career high 9.875 on bars. Mary Burke also scored a 9.875. The Tigers held the lead after the first rotation, scoring 48.875 to the Cyclones' 48.775. Missouri's score matches the team's score on bars at last week's Beauty and the Beast meet.
Mizzou put up a 48.650, but it was not enough to hold the lead. Iowa State recorded a 49.150 on bars to take the lead, 97.925-97.525. Brittani Price and Tori Howard started off the second rotation earning scores of 9.650 on vault. Swankoski and Burke followed, both posting scores of 9.750. Gold scored 9.800 on her vault, while Ostad finished out the second rotation for the Tigers with a 9.700.
Medrea started the third rotation with a 9.700 on her floor routine. Heizelman followed up with a 9.650, and Gold pulled in a 9.775 to match her score at Mizzou's Beauty and the Beast meet. Swankoski stepped up and recorded a 9.800, and Burke closed out the third rotation with a 9.800 as well. Mizzou earned its highest team floor score of the season, 48.800, but it wasn't enough to keep up with Iowa State. The Cyclones held their lead, 146.500-146.325.
The meet came down to the final rotation when the Cyclones only held the lead by a small fraction of a point. Burke led off the beam rotation, earning a 9.775, and Alex Skinner followed with a 9.600. Tori Howard scored a 9.675 on her routine, followed by an 8.925 from Medrea. Gold scored 9.425, and Heizelman closed out the rotation with a 9.750.
Iowa State now leads the regular season series, 27-26 in program history.
Mizzou Gymnastics competes in Dallas, Texas next weekend at the Metroplex Challenge. Missouri will compete against LSU, Nebraska, and Alabama beginning at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 29. Fans can keep up with Mizzou Gymnastics on MUTigers.com or on the team's twitter account, TigerGymnastics.
Players Mentioned
