University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
Penn State, Michigan
Tar Heels Post Top Score Of The Season
March 2, 2012 | Women's Gymnastics
March 2, 2012
University Park, Pa. - North Carolina scored a season-high 195.750 to finish third Friday in a tri-meet with No. 11 Penn State and No. 23 Michigan. Penn State won the meet with a 196.000 and Michigan was second at 195.900. The Tar Heels came up just short, but were pleased with their performance.
"It was a great meet for us," said head coach Derek Galvin. "I'm very proud of them for the way they competed all night long against two of the top gymnastics teams in the country in a road environment. We did not have to count any falls and I think we surprised the other teams. Going into the last rotation, it was anyone's meet and we had our best beam score of the season with the pressure on."
Senior Morgan Evans took second place in the individual all-around race with a career-high score of 39.375.
"It was Morgan's best meet of the season and it's difficult to single any one person out because they all competed so well," said Galvin. "Zoya Johnson, who has been held out of beam the last few weeks because of a back injury, had a fantastic meet. Elizabeth Durkac scored above 39 in the all-around again and is having a great season."
Carolina combined for a 48.800 on the vault. Johnson led her team with a 9.900, tying her personal best score, and tying for second place overall. Evans earned a 9.850, which also tied her personal best, and placed her tied for sixth. Senior Taylor Brown scored a 9.750 and Durkac was close behind with a 9.700. Junior Michelle Ikoma and Freshman Haley Watts each earned a 9.600.
On uneven bars, the Heels scored a total of 48.925. Durkac, Evans, and Johnson all scored a 9.850, equaling Durkac's personal best, and tying the three at fifth place. Sophomore Acacia Cosentino tied her personal best of 9.750, and Brown followed with a 9.625.
UNC scored a season-high 49.025 on the balance beam. Junior Maura Masatsugu led the Heels with a 9.875 and tied for second place. Durkac, Evans, and Johnson again earned the same scores, this time a 9.800, which equaled Johnson's personal best score. Freshman Janell Sargent rounded out the event at a 9.750, a season high.
The Heels finished with a 49.000 on floor exercise. Sophomore Kristin Aloi and Evans tied for third place overall, each with a 9.875, equaling each gymnast's personal record. Watts was next for the Heels, earning her season best 9.825. Brown and Durkac finished the event with 9.725 and 9.700, respectively.
Evans came in second overall in the all-around race. Her score of 39.375 edged out her personal best of 39.300. Durkac finished in fourth place with a 39.050.
UNC is back in action Saturday, March 10 at 1:00 in their last home meet of the season, where Carolina's seniors will be recognized.
Players Mentioned
