Rutgers Gymnastics Ousted at WVU, 193.425-191.650
Jan 15 | Women's Gymnastics
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (January 15, 2012) - Rutgers University gymnastics used several new routines and improved on its team score, but that was not enough to overcome West Virginia University on Sunday afternoon inside the WVU Coliseum. The Mountaineers won by the score of 193.425-191.650.
"I am extremely pleased with how we fought today in a tough environment," said first-year head coach Louis Levine. "Landing all six beam performances was a great sign for us and we look to build off of this meet moving forward."
Rutgers (0-2, 0-2 EAGL) was led by sophomore Luisa Leal (Cali, Columbia), as she took home the meet all-around title for the second-straight week with a score of 38.850. She scored best on vault (9.850), followed by uneven bars (9.825), balance beam (9.675) and floor exercise (9.500). The uneven bars score tied a career-best mark.
As a team, the Scarlet Knights graded best on the vault with a 48.425 mark. Highlighted by Leal's score, RU also received a strong season debut from junior Jenna Zito (Rockaway, N.J.) in the event (9.775).
Rutgers also had a strong showing on the uneven bars, winning the top three spots on the podium at the awards ceremony. Leal led all performers in the event, while junior Danielle D'Elia (Colts Neck, N.J.) and sophomore Alexis Gunzelman (Tabernacle, N.J.) tallied scores of 9.650 and 9.625, respectively.
West Virginia was led by the all-around performance from Hope Sloanhoffer (38.825) and a top-meet score of 9.875 from Alaska Richardson on the vault.
Rutgers will hit the road once again for its next meet, traveling to the University of Pennsylvania on Friday, January 20 for a 7 p.m. dual meet against the Quakers inside Hutchinson Gymnasium.
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