Falcons Downed by Central Michigan, Prepare for Quick Turnaround Sunday

Friday, March 4

Bowling Green, Ohio

6:00 PM

Bowling Green State University

195.150

195.750

Central Michigan

Falcons Downed by Central Michigan, Prepare for Quick Turnaround Sunday

March 04, 2016 | Gymnastics

By: by Alexx Klein, BGSU Athletic Communications

NCAA Scoresheet
All-Around Results
Event Results
Post meet interview: Kerrie Turner

Bowling Green, Ohio – The Bowling Green State University gymnastics team earned two event scores of 49.000 or better for the first time in one meet this season on Friday night. The Falcons fell to Central Michigan 195.150-195.750 inside of Anderson Arena, despite posting the team's third highest score of the season. This matchup marks the first of four meets in an intense nine-day span.

"It was definitely an improvement for us," said head coach Kerrie Turner. "Last weekend we stumbled a little bit, so it was important for us to regain our composure. It was really exciting to see the athletes come out strong on vault and really pick it up from there."

After the first rotation, BGSU trailed the Chippewas 48.800-48.850 before heading into the second event of the evening. Following rotation two, the Falcons regained the lead thanks to a team season-high uneven bars performance, but CMU jumped ahead after the third rotation and never looked back.

Individually, Alyssa Nocella won the all-around with a 39.275, which was her second highest score of the season. She also scored a 9.900 on uneven bars to win the event. This was her second 9.900 on the apparatus this season, and Nocella now holds three of the four 9.900s recorded on any event in 2016 (two bars, one floor) for the Falcons. The senior added a second-place tie to her night, scoring a 9.850 on floor exercise.

Lauren Feely took first place on vault (9.850) for the Falcons' third individual title of the night. Caroline Ellingboe tied for second on bars with a 9.850 and Victoria Heath tied for second on floor with an identical score.

Bowling Green began the meet on vault and the rotation was highlighted by Heath's 9.800 and Feely's 9.85. For Heath, the score tied her career-high and it is her fourth straight meet earning that score. Feely vaulted her way to a season-high, as well as a team-high for all of 2016, score of 9.850. As a team, the Orange and Brown received a 48.800, which ties the team's season-high.

Down by just 0.050, BGSU moved to bars where the success continued. Of the five scorers, four gymnast either tied or recorded new season-highs. Laura Mitchell (9.775), Shannon Goniwiecha (9.725), Rachel Reis (9.800), Ellingboe (9.850) and Nocella (9.900) were the top five on the event for the Falcons. The team earned a season-high 49.050 and moved ahead of the Chippewas going into the second half of the meet.

The balance beam struggles continued for the Orange and Brown, as the Falcons had two athletes fall during the rotation. However, Nocella's senior experienced shined through, as she competed after the two falls, getting the team back on track with a 9.775. Mitchell led the team with a 9.825, anchoring BGSU on the event. Feely earned a 9.775 and Heath recorded a 9.700 to start things off for the Falcons.

Following the 48.300 on balance beam, BGSU showed its resiliency on floor exercise to end the meet, earning a 49.000. Heath and Nocella tied for second on the event with scores of 9.850, while Feely (9.825) and freshman Kayla Rose (9.800) placed fifth and sixth, respectively. Freshman Rachel Creagh rounded out the top five for the team with a score of 9.675.

"This is a great opportunity. We want those RQS scores, so we want to take today and build on it and get to that meet on Sunday and do even better," added Turner.

The Falcons have their quickest turnaround of the season yet, as they travel to West Virginia for a tri-meet with Ohio State on Sunday at 2 pm ET.