Falcons Topple Illinois State in 2017 Home Opener

Saturday, January 21

Bowling Green, Ohio

4:30 PM

Bowling Green State University

193.925

192.550

Illinois State

Photo by: Christine Nelson, BGSU Marketing & Communications

January 21, 2017 | Gymnastics

By: by Matthew Daley, Athletic Communicationis Assistant

MEET RESULTS (.pdf)

BOWLING GREEN, Ohio -- The Bowling Green State University won their first home meet of the season for the fourth consecutive year and 30th time in 43 seasons by defeating the Illinois State Redbirds 193.925-192.550 on Saturday, Jan. 21 at Anderson Arena. The Falcons won three of the individual event competition and captured the team victory in two of four events.

"The team made progress today picking up our first win of the season. I was pleased to see considerable progress from our floor lineup. We have been affected by injuries on that event, and it was great to see various athletes step up and bring this line up to full strength," said BGSU head coach Kerrie Turner.

The first rotation began with BGSU on the vault and Illinois State on the uneven bars. The teams then flipped places for the second rotation.

The first four BGSU vaulters in the lineup earned scores of at least 9.650 to help solidify the team mark. This included scores of 9.750 from Lauren DeMeno and Randi Morris. DeMeno's vault earned her highest score of the season to date. Senior Lauren Feely went last, but her excellent leap resulted in a 9.825, which was good enough to win the event.

When Illinois State's turn on the apparatus arrived, the Redbirds suffered a pair of falls and thus had to count one towards their final score. Meredith LaRoche posted ISU's highest mark (9.800), but BGSU won the event 48.650-47.925.

The uneven bars proved to be a difficult climb for both teams. Rachel Reis continued her good work and won the event with a 9.750, while DeMeno set a new personal record by scoring 9.700. Laura Mitchell matched DeMeno's mark, and Morris added a 9.625. The highest ISU could muster was a 9.725 from Anna Marena.

Halfway through the meet, the Falcons led by a slim 96.500-96.300 margin.

The teams then proceeded to the balance beam and floor exercise. BGSU was tasked with the beam during the third rotation, then completed the meet on the floor. In the process, they earned their highest team scores of the season in both areas.

All six Falcons earned 9.650 or better on the balance beam. Feely (9.675) and Mitchell (9.775) featured routines that secured their highest marks of the season to date, and three others either matched or set personal records. India McPeak tied her beam score of 9.800 from the season's first meet. Freshman Alex Johnston's 9.725 is a personal record, and fellow freshman Taylor Worthington scored a 9.825 to set a personal best and tie BGSU's season-best on the beam. BGSU ultimately totaled a 48.800 before heading to the final rotation.

BGSU solidified their victory during the floor exercise. Four of the Falcons' six gymnasts earned at least a 9.700 to ensure a winning margin. Victoria Heath won the event with a 9.800, which is BGSU's season best on the floor, and Morris' 9.700 tied her personal best. BGSU's floor exercise team score (48.625) is the team's season high and easily topped Illinois State's 47.325.

"We need to continue to raise standards and expectations each week. In addition, our bar lineup really needs to put together a better performance. At this point, we should not be counting any falls. We will certainly be spending this week refining the details on every event," said Turner.

The Falcons' victory is their fourth in a row in a home opener, following wins over Eastern Michigan (2014), Michigan State (2015) and Alaska-Anchorage (2016). The team is now 34-13 all-time in home openers, a mark that includes four victories in tri-meets. In the team's first home dual meet, BGSU is now 29-14. During Kerrie Turner's 10-year tenure, the Falcons are 7-3 in this area.

Bowling Green returns to action on Saturday, Jan. 28 in Fort Worth, Texas at the Metroplex Invitational. The quad meet, which begins at 6:30 p.m., pits the Falcons against San Jose State, George Washington, and Mid-American Conference foe Central Michigan. BGSU's next home meet will occur on Sunday, Feb. 5 against Western Michigan.