Women's Gymnastics 4/3/2011 2:24:00 AM SUU Strategic Communication

Injury Costly as Southern Utah Finishes Sixth at NCAA Corvallis Regional

CORVALLIS, Ore. - April 2 - Southern Utah University started behind on Saturday night as an injury during warm-ups left the Thunderbirds short a gymnast, spelling a sixth-place finish at the NCAA Corvallis Regional with a 193.775. Oregon State and Nebraska finished first and second during the night with a 197.025 and 196.550, respectively, to advance to the NCAA Championship, April 15-17 in Cleveland, Ohio.

The Thunderbirds got out to a rough start during the meet as junior Brooke Cersosimo was injured during the team's final warm-up rotation on vault. The injury necessitated a change to three line-ups, including vault, bars and beam.

Southern Utah began the competition on the uneven bars and started strong with a 9.650 from Ari Lamb and a 9.675 from Lauren Jeffrey. The T-Birds had a small hiccup as Michaela Chernoch fell on her release move during the next routine, scoring a 9.200. However, she was followed by 9.800 tallied by Alyssa Click, performing at a venue only two hours from her hometown of Vancouver, Wash. Caitlin Kennedy's 9.675 rounded out Southern Utah's team score of 48.000 on the event.

Chernoch also had her struggles on the balance beam, recording a 9.225 to start the second rotation. Despite the slow start the Thunderbirds regrouped and finished the beam going 5-of-5 with Click leading the way with a 9.775. Coughlin (9.750), Kennedy (9.750), Lamb (9.675) and Jeffrey (9.625) rounded out the Thunderbirds' team score of 48.575.

Following a bye, Southern Utah moved to floor and appeared to be underscored throughout, prompting head coach Scott Bauman to put in an inquire on Schultz' score. The senior was originally scored a 9.625, but was later adjusted to a 9.775, matching Click's score of 9.775. Coughlin led the way for SUU on the event, scoring a 9.825 and was followed closely by Jeffrey with a 9.800. Lamb's 9.750 rounded out the Thunderbirds' team score of a 48.925, marking the highest team score for SUU during the night.

Southern Utah finished the competition on vault, scoring a 48.275 with only five in the line-up because of the earlier injury to Cersosimo. Seniors Coughlin and Schultz tallied the top marks for the T-Birds with a 9.750 and 9.725, respectively with Lamb (9.675), Kennedy (9.650) and Jeffrey rounding out the team score with a 9.475.

The performance left the Thunderbirds with a 193.775 on the night and Coughlin, Jeffrey and Lamb with all-around totals. Lamb was tops on the team with a 38.750 and was followed by Jeffrey and Coughlin with a 38.575 and 38.375, respectively.

"This was tough for us tonight," head coach Scott Bauman said after the meet. "I think having Brooke injured before the meet kind of made the team panic a bit, but we came back and battled. We just didn't have the weapons tonight, but we'll be back next year and we expect to be better."

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