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University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
Pittsburgh
Carolina Pulls Off Comeback Against Pittsburgh
January 25, 2020 | Women's Gymnastics
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – The North Carolina women's gymnastics team pulled off an impressive comeback against Pittsburgh on Saturday in Carmichael Arena to win their first EAGL dual meet of the season. Down 1.475 points heading into the second half of the competition, the Tar Heels made up 2.600 points on the Panthers to come out on top, 193.625 to 192.450.
The Heels opened meet on vault with a team score of 48.675. Senior Khazia Hislop tied Pittsburgh's Alecia Petrikis for first in the individual standings with her score of 9.850 while senior Mikayla Robinson scored 9.800 to tie for third, also with a Panther. Sophomore Drew Aldridge, senior Alexis Allen and freshman Elizabeth Culton rounded out the first rotation score with 9.725, 9.700 and 9.600, respectively.
Leading by just 0.025 points, North Carolina faced a difficult second rotation on bars. Senior Mekyllah Williams highlighted the Tar Heel performances and tied for second place with a score of 9.725 while sophomore Emery Summey and Culton added respective scores of 9.650 and 9.625. Freshman Leah Gneco, Aldridge and senior Grace Donaghy each had mishaps on the apparatus which put the Tar Heels almost 1.500 points behind Pitt, 95.825 to 97.300.
Nevertheless, Carolina powered through the third rotation on beam with five consistent scores to help them make up some ground. The Tar Heels combined for a team score of 48.600 with Culton, Hislop and freshman Hannah Nam almost pulling off a podium sweep. Culton finished first with a score of 9.825, Hislop second with 9.800 and Nam tied for third with 9.725. Donaghy and Summey also added 9.650 and 9.600 to Carolina's total.
Breaking 49.000 for the second time this season, Carolina secured the team win with a 49.150 on the team's primetime event – the floor exercise. All six Tar Heels scored higher than each of Pittsburgh's performers with Hislop (9.900), Robinson (9.875) and Culton (9.850) sweeping the podium. Nam scored 9.800 on floor while senior Jamie Antinori and junior Lily Dean both earned scores of 9.750. The team's floor score ties for 23rd in the nation so far this season.
Culton was also the only gymnast in the all-around competition, totaling 38.875 over the four events.
Next Up: Carolina heads east on Saturday, February 1 to face NC State for the second time this season in their first dual-meet matchup of the year. Competition is set to begin at 7 p.m. in Reynolds Coliseum in Raleigh, N.C.
Players Mentioned
