Pitt
Utah State
Panthers Down Aggies for Second Straight Win
3/7/2009 12:00:00 AM | Women's Gymnastics
March 7, 2009
LOGAN, Utah -- Pitt dominated three of the four events en route to its second straight win over Utah State last night, 194.550-192.675 last night at Dee Glen Smith Spectrum. Led by the bar team which tied a season-high score of 48.725, the Panthers hit bested their season average for the fourth straight meet.
Pitt (7-5, 2-3) swept the top five spots on vault, led by junior co-captain Dani Bryan's second 9.9+ score of the season. Bryan took top honors and was followed closely by sophomore Shannon Vafiadou (9.850), senior Anya Chayka (9.775), junior Shannon McConnell (9.725) and freshman Alicia Talucci (9.625).
The Panthers continued to rack up the top places on the bars. Senior co-captain Alix Croop set a personal-best in an event for the second straight week. In last week's home finale against Denver, Croop went 9.900 on floor, against Utah State she went 9.850 on bars, leading the Panther pack. Freshman Amy Varela posted a 9.775 for third place while Bryan tied for fourth with a 9.750. Senior Victoria McGuigan-Carl collected a career-high 9.675 and finished in seventh place.
On beam, Pitt collected three of the top four places, led by Talucci's 9.825. Croop and sophomore Molly Moyer finished second behind Talucci with a 9.775. Vafiadou's 9.750 was good for a tie fro fourth place.
In the only event in which a Panther did not collect top honors, Pitt gymnasts still dominated, taking three of the top five spots. Bryan's 9.775 put her in second place while Vafiadou and Moyer went fourth and fifth with a 9.675 and 9.650 respectively.
Talucci, a three-time EAGL honoree this season, claimed her third all-around title of the year, tying Lyndsie Boone with a 38.700.
The Panthers will remain on the road for their regular-season finale, traveling to College Park, Md., for a dual with EAGL rival Maryland on Wednesday, March 11. The two teams previously met Feb. 13, with the Terps edging out the win, 194.650-194.050. Meet time is set for 7 p.m.
