University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
William & Mary
Tar Heels Post Impressive Win Over William & Mary
March 5, 2011 | Women's Gymnastics
March 5, 2011
Chapel Hill, N.C. ------ The University of North Carolina capped its 2011 home gymnastics schedule with a 194.400-188.775 win over William & Mary Saturday afternoon at Carmichael Arena. It was a special day for the Tar Heels' lone senior Teri Diamond, who scored a personal-best 9.825 on the uneven bars in the final home meet of her career.
"Teri had a great meet," said head coach Derek Galvin. "She had two of the best routines of her career on bars and balance beam (exhibition). It's a dream come true for things to work out like that in your final home meet."
"I was trying not to think about this as my final meet," said Diamond, a native of Gaithersburg, Md. "If I had, I probably would have lost it. I just wanted to keep doing a good job for my team, which is the most important thing, and is what I've tried to do all season. It was awesome the way things played out today."
Junior Morgan Evans was the top all-arounder with a final score of 39.125, highlighted by individual first-place finishes on the balance beam (9.775) and floor exercise (9.850).
"I thought our entire team had a confident performance," said Evans. "We were all so happy for Teri that she did such a great job."
Carolina opened the meet on vault with the Tribe starting on uneven bars. The Tar Heels posted a 48.535, highlighted by a nearly flawless vault by junior Zoya Johnson who scored a 9.85. Evans had a 9.800 and junior Taylor Brown scored a 9.700. This was the third-straight meet Carolina has posted a 48.525 on vault, which is the team's second-highest score of the year. William & Mary was led by Kristina Beck with a 9.725 on bars.
Moving to the uneven bars, Carolina posted a 48.725 led by Diamond's 9.825. All five of Carolina's qualifying scores on bars were 9.700 or higher. In addition to Diamond's impressive performance, Johnson posted a 9.775, Krista Jasper a 9.725 and Elizabeth Durkac and Evans each recorded a 9.700. William & Mary worked the vault for a 47.975, led by a pair of 9.700s by Beck and Karla Bercaw. After two rotations, Carolina led 97.25-95.25.
Carolina posted a 48.500 on balance beam, hitting five of six routines. Freshman Kristin Aloi and Evans led the Tar Heels with 9.775s. Johnson posted a 9.700. While the Tar Heels were on beam, William & Mary posted a 47.325 on floor.
Carolina headed into the final rotation with a sizable 145.750-142.575 lead. On floor, Evans and freshman Kristin Aloi electrified a crowd of nearly 1,000 spectators with back-to-back 9.800-or-better scores. Evans posted a 9.850 and Aloi had a 9.80. It was the sixth time this season Aloi has had a 9.800 or higher.
"Overall, it was a good team performance," Galvin continued. "Morgan Evans and Krista Jasper were again outstanding as all-around competitors. I thought Zoya Johnson had her best meet of the year."
The Tar Heels conclude the 2011 regular season next week at Maryland before heading to the conference championships on March 19.
Players Mentioned
