Women's Gymnastics 2/19/2011 5:10:00 AM SUU Strategic Communication

SUU Gymnastics' Undefeated Streak Comes to an End

CEDAR CITY, Utah - Feb. 18 - Southern Utah University gymnastics saw its undefeated mark in Western Athletic Conference action come to an end on Friday night as the Thunderbirds suffered a 195.450 to 193.700 defeat to the San Jose State Spartans. Despite the defeat, SUU was headlined by junior Brooke Cersosimo with a new career high in the all-around, including a pair of career bests on beam and vault.

"Brooke did a great job tonight," head coach Scott Bauman said after the meet. "We had some great routines all over the place tonight, but we need those kind of routines from the entire team. We are much better than what we hit tonight."

SUU used a new-look line-up on the vault as senior Lindsey Schultz was not available for the meet. Schultz entered the meet as the second-highest scorer on the team, but was away interviewing for physician assistant schools.

The team scored right along its season average on the year with a finishing 48.625. Brooke Cersosimo led the way with a 9.800 to finish second overall and match a career best. She was followed by Caitlin Kennedy and Shannon Coughlin with a 9.775 and 9.750, respectively.

San Jose State finished its first rotation with a 48.375 and followed that up with a 48.825 on vault in the second rotation. Thomasina Wallace captured the vault title with a 9.825.

In SUU's second rotation the Thunderbirds encountered a pair of hiccups on bars, as Kennedy stalled in her routine and Lauren Jeffrey fell on her high bar release. Southern Utah's other routines scored a 9.725 or higher, including a 9.825 by Alyssa Click as the sophomore took the overall title on the event.

However, the falls proved costly as the T-Birds trailed the Spartans following the second rotation 97.200 to 96.375.

Falls continued to follow the Thunderbirds during the third rotation as the team suffered two falls and one stalled series. The performance led to a 48.300 on the event, but did yield second-place finishes for Cersosimo and Click with matching 9.825's. Michaela Chernoch was close behind with a 9.775 to buoy up the team score.

Southern Utah finished strong on floor, scoring a 49.025 with Coughlin leading the way with a first-place mark of 9.850. Cersosimo was just behind with a 9.825, finishing the all-around with a career-best 39.175.

However, San Jose State closed the door on a potential SUU comeback with a meet-best 49.275 on the balance beam to hand the Thunderbirds the 195.450 to 193.700 defeat.

"This wasn't our best performance tonight," Bauman said. "There are things we need to figure out and we need to figure them out quickly over the last few meets of the season. We are going to be okay if we finish the season out strong."

Southern Utah will have its final road meet of the season at the University of Missouri next weekend before closing the 2011 regular season with a pair of home meets.

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