Pitt Prepared for Tri-Meet at WVU

PITTSBURGH – The University of Pittsburgh gymnastics team will travel to Morgantown, W.Va. this weekend to face West Virginia and Maryland at WVU Coliseum.

THE MEET

The Panthers (4-7, 3-1 EAGL) will face the Mountaineers (5-6, 0-2 Big 12) and Terrapins (7-5, 2-3 Big 10) Sunday, Feb. 18. Action is set to begin at 2 p.m.
West Virginia will host its 'Beauty and the Beast' meet, which will feature the Mountaineers wrestling team competing alongside gymnastics in WVU Coliseum. The wrestling team will take on Clarion in the match.

LAST TIME OUT

The Panthers placed second with a 196.100 in a quad meet against Texas Woman's University, No. 15 Auburn and EAGL foe NC State.
Pitt's score of 196.100 was its highest ever in road meet, while ranking fifth overall all-time.
The Panthers earned a 49.250 on bars, which is tied for the second-best mark in program history. They also earned a 49.050 on beam, which ranks seventh in the record book.
Individually, freshman Haley Brechwald earned the all-around title in the meet after recording a season-high 39.325, which is tied for the seventh-best mark in program history.

STARS ON BARS

Pitt moved into the top-25 nationally on bars after its impressive showing in the event last Sunday.
The Panthers currently average a 48.870 on bars, after earning a 49.250 in their meet at TWU.
The 49.250 is tied for the second-best mark in program history. Pitt set the program record earlier this year against New Hampshire when they scored a 49.275 in the event.
Individually, three Panther gymnasts rank in the top-100 in the nation on bars. Sophomore Megan Tripp is tied for 72^nd on bars with a season average of 9.815. Brechwald is tied for 78^th at 9.810 and junior Lucy Brett is tied for 89^th with an average of 9.800.

RELEVANT RANKINGS

Pitt ranks 40^th in the nation with an average team score of 194.540 through five meets.
The Panthers rank 23^rd on bars with a 48.870, 35^th on floor with a 48.870, 43^rd on vault with a 48.615 and sit at 49^th on beam with a 48.185.
Individually, Brechwald is tied for 44^th in the nation on floor with an average score of 9.860, ranks 60^th in the all-around with a 39.005 and is tied for 78^th on bars with a 9.810. Senior Catie Conrad is tied for 65^th on beam with a 9.815 and ranks 87^th in the all-around with a 38.813. Tripp is tied for 72^nd on bars with a season average of 9.815 and Brett is tied for 89^th on bars with a 9.800.

CONFERENCE COMPETITION

The Panthers have competed against three EAGL foes so far this season. Pitt defeated New Hampshire, 196.225-195.175, in its record-setting dual meet Jan. 20. In the Panthers home meet Feb. 3, they defeated Towson while falling to NC State. Pitt faced NC State for the second consecutive time in TWU's quad meet last Sunday, coming out with a 196.100-195.925 victory over the Wolfpack to improve to 3-1 in conference competition on the season.

Pitt is slated for two more meets against conference opponents in the regular season. The Panthers will face George Washington in a tri-meet March 11 before squaring off against North Carolina in a dual meet March 17.
The EAGL Championship is scheduled for March 24.

A FRESHMAN TO FEAR

Brechwald was named EAGL Rookie of the Week for the second consecutive week and the fourth time this season after an exceptional showing in TWU's quad meet last Sunday.
Brechwald has collected 10 individual titles through five meets. She earned the all-around title in Pitt's most recent meet after earning the bars, floor and all-around title in Pitt's home meet against NC State, Temple and Towson. Versus New Hampshire, Brechwald took home the bars, floor and all-around title. Against Oregon State, she won vault, bars and the all-around title.
Brechwald is currently averaging scores of 9.860 on floor, 9.810 on bars, 9.750 on vault and 9.585 on beam for an all-around average of 39.005.

YOU CAN COUNT ON CONRAD

Conrad has become a strong veteran leader in her first year with the Panthers, after spending her last three years at EMU.
Conrad has collected four individual titles through five meets. She brought home the beam title in Pitt's quad meet at Michigan State, took bars and beam against New Hampshire and won bars in Pitt's season opener against Oregon State.
Conrad is currently averaging scores of 9.815 on beam, 9.740 on floor, 9.581 on vault and 9.570 on bars for an all-around average of 38.812.

PITT VERSUS WEST VIRGINIA

Pitt will face West Virginia for the 75^th time in program history, with the Mountaineers owning the all-time series edge, 59-13-2.
West Virginia defeated the Panthers in their last meeting, coming out with a 195.800-194.200 victory March 5, 2017.
Pitt faced WVU three times last season, earning a 194.025-193.875 win in their first meeting of the season Jan. 13, 2017.

SCOUTING WEST VIRGINIA

The Mountaineers are 5-6 on the season and 0-2 in Big 12 competition. Most recently, WVU fell to No. 12 Denver and No. 21 George Washington in a road tri-meet Saturday Feb. 10.
As a team, West Virginia is tied for 26^th in the nation on vault (48.921), ranks 31^st on beam (48.671), ranks 34^th on bars (48.667) and is tied for 36^th on floor (48.858).
Junior Kirah Koshinski leads the team on vault with a season average of 9.871 (tied for 15^th in the nation) and on floor with a 9.821 (tied for 100^th in the nation). Senior Zaakira Muhammad ranks first on bars with a season average of 9.790 and junior Carly Galpin heads the team on beam with a 9.754.

PITT VERSUS MARYLAND

The Panthers will face Maryland for the 57^th time program history, with the Terrapins holding a 36-20 all-time series edge.
Maryland defeated Pitt in their last meeting, earning a 195.275-194.725 victory Feb. 17, 2017.
The Panthers last defeated Maryland, 195.075-194.775, Feb. 28, 2014.

SCOUTING MARYLAND

The Terrapins are 7-5 on the season and 2-3 in Big 10 competition. Most recently, Maryland placed first in a quad meet against William & Mary, Rutgers and Brown.
As a team, Maryland ranks 26^th in the nation on bars (48.788), 32^nd on both vault (48.842) and beam (48.667) and is tied for 40^th on floor (48.813).
Freshman Sabriyya Rouse leads the team on floor with a season average of 9.850 (tied for 52^nd in the nation). Sophomore Alecia Farina ranks first on bars with a 9.829 (tied for 56^th in the nation). Freshman Audrey Barber heads the team on vault with a season average of 9.808 (tied for 87^th in the nation) and junior Shynelle Agaran leads the team on beam with a 9.750.

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