Nebraska Repeats as Big 12 Champions

Lincoln -- The Nebraska women's gymnastics team claimed their second consecutive Big 12 Championship title Saturday night in front of a crowd of 2,248 at the Bob Devaney Sports Center. The Huskers edged runner-up Iowa State 196.725-196.65, while Oklahoma finished third (196.125) and Missouri fourth (195.475).

After three rotations, Nebraska sat comfortably in first with its largest lead of the night. With bars as its final event it looked like the Huskers had the meet well in hand. Nebraska's first three competitors all tallied at least a 9.80, including sophomore Richelle Simpson, who posted a career high 9.875 and finished tied for third. But after Libby Landgraf fell on her landing and Jess Wertz slipped on her cast, it looked like the conference title might slip away. But even though the Cyclones posted their second-best balance beam score of the season (49.40), NU's lead proved insurmountable as Nebraska claimed its fifth Big 12 title and eighth conference title under Coach Dan Kendig.

The Huskers opened the evening on the balance beam posting a 49.375, the second-highest beam total of the season and fourth best in Husker history. Lincoln native A.J. Lamb started things off for the Huskers and got the crowd going with a 9.85, but it was Simpson's routine that brought the fans to their feet. Simpson matched the Big 12 Championships record with a 9.95 and captured her fifth beam title of the season. Sophomore Tami Harris also had a strong meet on beam matching her career high with a 9.90.

Nebraska's confidence carried over to the floor exercise as a trio of Huskers helped NU to a 49.425, marking the third consecutive meet in which Nebraska has scored at least a 49.40 on floor. Simpson, who earned back-to-back 9.95s on beam and floor, tied with OU's Kasie Tamayo for first place, while Lamb and freshman Carrie Gloudemans both earned 9.90s to finish tied for third.

Nebraska maintained the momentum on vault producing its best score of the season (49.20). Once again it was Lamb who got the ball rolling posting a career high 9.90 to tie junior Jess Wertz for the title. Wertz, whose previous high on vault this season had been a 9.75, successfully defended her 2001 title, while it marked the first ever vault title for Lamb.

Despite posting a career-high all-around score of 39.575, which included two event victories, Simpson was unable to bring the title back to Lincoln, as Iowa State's Sissy Huey received a 39.60 becoming the third consecutive Cylcone gymnast to win the honor. Simpson finished second, followed by Oklahoma's Mariana Goncalves (39.50), Lamb (39.45) and Harris (39.325).

In all, five Huskers earned All-Big 12 honors, which were bestowed upon those athletes who finished in the top four of each event. Simpson led the group with four honors (floor, beam, bars, all-around), while Lamb earned her third consecutive All-Big 12 award on floor and added another on vault. Harris was one of two Huskers named all-conference on beam and Gloudemans career performance on floor produced her first All-Big 12 honor.

The Huskers will now wait to hear where they'll be sent for regional competition on April 6. Nebraska will travel to either Oregon State, Denver, Arizona State, LSU, Penn State or West Virginia.