University of Pittsburgh Athletics
Pitt
Auburn
No. 18 Auburn Sweeps Past Pitt 195.925-192.650
2/25/2011 12:00:00 AM | Women's Gymnastics
Feb. 25, 2011
AUBURN, Al. - The Pitt gymnastics team fell to No. 18 Auburn 195.925-192.650 Friday evening in Auburn, Al. The Panthers now settle to 3-8 on the year, and remain 0-7 in EAGL competition.
On vault, freshman Kori Macdonald (Colonie, N.Y./Colonie) set a new personal record with a 9.775, while fellow newcomer Katie O'Rourke (Springfield, Va./J.E.B. Stuart) hit the same score. The pair of freshmen accounted for the Panthers' highest scores in the event, tying each other for fourth place. Jen Liberato (Malvern, Pa./Great Valley) tied her season-high 9.725 for the second time of her senior campaign.
Auburn swept the top three finishes on vault. Toi Garcia posted a 9.925 for the event title and the lone 9.9-plus score in the event. The Tigers' 49.125 won them the event, and marked a season-high score.
On bars, Freshman Brittney Harris (Easton, Pa./Easton) was the sole Panther to make a top-three finish. Her new career-high 9.800 performance earned her the third place title and marked the only 9.800 or better score for Pitt on the evening. She now joins Alyssa Adrian (Cary, N.C./Green Hope) and Amy Varela (Derwood, Md./Magruder) as the third gymnast on Pitts' roster this season to hit a score of 9.800 or better on uneven bars.
Adrian posted a 9.750 for fourth place. Both Harris' and Adrian's scores helped Pitt earn a 48.525 for its second highest score on bars this season.
The Tigers collected two scores of 9.000 or better from Petrina Yokay (9.925) and Allyson Sandusky (9.900) for first and second place respectively on uneven bars. Their 48.900 tied their season-high mark for the third time on the year.
Lisa Taylor (Odessa, Fla./Tampa) set a new personal record after she posted a 9.750 on beam - it is the second time this season that she has set a new career-high mark. O'Rourke tied her personal best 9.750 for the second time this season with her performance on beam. Each of their scores marked a team-high for the Panthers. Junior Alicia Talucci tallied a 9.725 for the Panthers for the second best score on the team roster.
Despite strong performances from Taylor and O'Rourke the Tigers took each place on the podium for beam.
On floor, veteran Mallory Brewer (Grand Rapids, Mich./Grand Rapids C.C.) led the Panthers with a team-high 9.750. O'Rourke supported her teammate with a 9.675, to help lead the team to a 47.300 in the event.
Auburn swept the top-three finishes on floor with three scores of 9.850 or higher.
In their next meet, the Panthers return home to face their last EAGL opponent N.C. State in what will be their final home competition for the 2011 season on Sunday, March 6 at Fitzgerald Field House. The meet will be a matinee performance, beginning at 1 p.m.
