Pitt Slips Against No. 23 Ohio State

Feb. 16, 2008

PITTSBURGH -

The University of Pittsburgh gymnastics team traveled to Columbus, Ohio tonight to take on the No. 23 Buckeyes at St. John Arena. Pitt posted top-five scores in each event, including one event crown, but could not overtake Ohio State and fell by a score of 194.675-192.750.

The Panthers (1-7, 1-1 EAGL) posted a season-high 48.375 on the balance beam. Samantha DeBone (Greensburg, Pa./Hempfield), an All-EAGL selection last year in the event, posted a score of 9.775, which earned her the event crown. The title marked DeBone's first this season. She was nominated as the Panther of the Week by her teammates for her efforts. Sarah Thompson (Shokan, N.Y./Onteora) finished just behind DeBone in second place with a mark of 9.750.

DeBone, a two-time All-EAGL selection on bars, also led Pitt in that event as well. She turned in a 9.750 for a fourth-place finish in the event, while Alix Croop (Allentown, Pa./Bridgeway Academy), who entered the meet with the ninth best average in the EAGL, tied for fifth with a 9.725.

Dani Bryan (Germantown, Md./Northwest) also paced the Panthers in two events on the evening. She posted a score of 9.750 on vault, the event in which she captured the EAGL crown last season, and claimed a tie for fourth place overall. Her efforts helped Pitt to a season-high tying 48.400 team score in the event. Later in the meet she recorded a career-high tying 9.850 on floor to grab third place overall.

Freshman Molly Moyer (Telford, Pa./Homeschooled) continued her stellar string of performances on floor with a 9.800, improving on her average of 9.765 this season.

Pitt's only all-around competitor Shannon Vafiadou (Mahwah, N.J./Mahwah) finished just behind Bryan on vault in sixth place with a 9.725 performance. She also added a seventh-place effort on the bars.

Pitt's next competition will be another road contest against George Washington in our nation's capitol on Friday, Feb. 24 at 1 p.m.

For complete results from Columbus, please visit the following link:

Pitt Slips Against No. 23 Ohio State

Players Mentioned

Dani Bryan

Alix Croop

Samantha DeBone

Molly Moyer

Sarah Thompson

Shannon Vafiadou

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