Michigan State University Athletics
Gymnastics Set For Missouri Cat Classic
2/26/2009 12:00:00 AM | Women's Gymnastics
Feb. 26, 2009
Spartan Sports Podcast
Nicole
EAST LANSING, Mich. - The 23rd-ranked Michigan State gymnastics team heads to Columbia, Mo. for the Missouri Cat Classic on Friday, Feb. 27 at 7:30 p.m. The Spartans will face No. 13 Missouri, Cal State Fullerton and Western Michigan in a quad meet. Fans can follow along through livestats.
MSU is coming off its first dual meet win of the season over Pittsburgh. The Spartans posted a 194.900, its best score of the season. Sophomore Kelsey Morley recorded a team-high 9.950 on balance beam and junior Nicole Curler finish second overall in the all-around with a 39.225 to lead the way for MSU. Freshman Jackie Berg posted a career-high 9.800 on uneven bars, finishing third overall for her first top-three finish, and junior Emily Lopatofsky tied her career-high with a 9.900 to finish first overall for the fourth time in her career on floor exercise.
Missouri, ranked 13th in the nation, is coming off a second place finish at a quad meet with Oklahoma, Brown and West Virginia. The Tigers recorded a 196.225 and took a share of every event title. Junior Sarah Shire tallied a 39.400 in the all-around to capture her sixth all-around title of the year, while senior Adrienne Perry was second in the event with a 39.300. Shire was named Big 12 Gymnast of the Week on Feb. 17 after recording a career-high 39.525 in the all-around in a win over Illinois. The award was her third this season. The Spartans and Tigers have met once already this season, with Missouri taking first at the Ohio State quad meet.
Cal State Fullerton recorded a win over Sacramento State on Sunday, Feb. 22 and sophomore Alaina Baker claimed all-around honors for the second time this season. The Titans recorded a season-high on floor with a 48.650 and tied their season-high on uneven bars with a 48.575. Sophomore Shelly Cooper picked up the vault title with a career-high 9.850, tied for second on bars with a 9.775, and was third on floor, tallying a 9.775. The Titans hold a 4-0 all-time record against the Spartans, and the two teams last met in 1994.
Western Michigan posted its third-highest score of the season in a loss to Ball State on Sunday. Senior Andrea Perini posted a 38.675 in the all-around and notched a 9.725 on balance beam to tie for first overall. Junior Liz Prouty was the Broncos top scorer on vault with a 9.625 to take fourth overall, while sophomore Kristine Garbarino recorded a 9.700 on uneven bars. Western Michigan and MSU opened the season on Jan. 9 in East Lansing. The Spartans hold a 54-0 all-time record against the Broncos.
Players Mentioned
