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#20 Illini Get Nipped by #14 Denver on the Road
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Sarah Schmidt won bars for the Illini against Denver.
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March 11, 2007
The 20th-ranked Fighting Illini women's gymnastics team scored a 194.525 to narrowly fall to 14th-ranked Denver (194.750) in front of 1,147 fans at Hamilton Gymnasium. Freshmen Sarah Schmidt (bars) and Nicole Cowart (beam) each took home event titles, but the Illini were without two regulars, as sophomores Lindsey Smith (illness) and Julie Crall (injury) did not compete.
"I was pleased with how we performed and carried ourselves despite the obstacles we faced," Illinois head coach Bob Starkell said. "The good thing is that we had the opportunity to add new girls into the line-up, and I am very pleased with their performances."
The Orange and Blue scored a 48.900 on the uneven bars in the first rotation, while Schmidt placed first with a 9.850. The next Illini was Krystal Melcarek, tying for third with a season-high tying 9.800. Illinois led narrowly after the first event as the Pioneers scored a 48.800 on vault.
Illinois was not at its best without their sophomores on vault, but still managed to score a 48.475. Junior Michelle McGrady tabbed the highest score on vault for the Illini, taking tying for second with a 9.800. Trailing closely behind her was Cowart in a fourth-place tie with a 9.775. Junior Krystal Melcarek (9.525) and Schmidt (9.575), who was in the vault line-up for the first time in her career, filled in for Smith and Crall. Illinois trailed 97.650-97.375 halfway through the competition. Illinois posted a season-high score of 48.800 on floor and took the lead after the third rotation, 146.175-145.475. Cowart managed to grab fourth-place with a 9.850. The next Illini to place was senior Cara Pomeroy, coming in at seventh with a career-high tying 9.775. Marijka Botterman (9.750) and Krystal Melcarek (9.725) both posted season-highs on floor.
The Illini closed the meet by struggling to a score of 48.350 on the balance beam, counting a fall for the first time in five meets. Cowart tied for first-place with a career-high 9.825, while Schmidt placed third with a career-best 9.775. Senior Cara Pomeroy took fourth with a 9.750.
Cowart had the best all-around score for the Illini, taking second with a career-high 39.200 behind Denver's Heather Huffaker, who tabbed a 39.325. Schmidt took third with a 38.900 in her first-career all-around performance.
Next weekend, Illinois will return home to face Illinois-Chicago on Saturday, March 17 at 2 p.m. It will be the final home meet for seniors Cara Pomeroy, Danye Botterman and Melissa Singer, and will be a double-dual meet with the sixth-ranked Illini men's team, who also takes on UIC.
