Pitt
Rutgers*, Yale
Panthers Cruise to Second Straight EAGL Win
2/7/2009 12:00:00 AM | Women's Gymnastics
Feb. 7, 2009
PISCATAWAY, N.J. -- Backed by freshman Alicia Talucci's first all-around win in her short career, the University of Pittsburgh gymnastics team cruised to victory over Eastern Atlantic Gymnastics League rival Rutgers and Yale in a triangular meet hosted by Rutgers.
Talucci set a career-high score of 9.550 on the bars en route to a 38.650 first-place finish in the all-around, the first time she had competed in all four events this season.
Pitt (5-3, 2-2 EAGL) swept for top four spots on vault, with junior co-captain Dani Bryan taking first with a season-high tying mark of 9.875. Talucci followed Bryan with a 9.800 for second place while Shannon McConnell and Shannon Vafiadou went 9.725 and 9.700 respectively for third and fourth place.
On the uneven bars, senior co-captain Alix Croop took first with a 9.775 while freshman Amy Varela finished third with a 9.700.
The Panthers continued their dominance on the beam, taking the top three spots. Croop's collected her second first place finish in as many events with a 9.800. Vafiadou and Sarah Thompson tied for second with a 9.725 each.
In the first even in which Pitt did not take two of the top three places or win the even, Croop led all Panthers on the floor with a 9.725, good for fourth place. Vafiadou registered a 9.625, edging Talucci who finished with a 9.600.
The Panthers return home for three straight weeks, hosting EAGL foe Maryland. Meet time is set for 7 p.m. inside Fitzgerald Field House.
