Huskers Finish Fourth at Big 12s

Des Moines, Iowa ? The 11th-ranked Nebraska women’s gymnastics team finished in fourth place (196.175) at the Big 12 Championships, Saturday evening at the Knapp Center, as Oklahoma took first (196.950), Iowa State took second (196.925) and Missouri took third (196.425).

"I am proud of this group despite the outcome of this meet. Tonight was not the night for the Huskers. It was disappointing because I thought we were prepared for a great meet," Head Coach Dan Kendig said. "Now, it is a matter of picking up the pieces in order to go out and have a great regional."

The Huskers scored above 49.0 in three events, including vault (49.125), uneven bars (49.20) and floor exercise (49.25). Senior Libby Landgraf led the Huskers, finishing in fourth place in the all-around competition with a score of 39.40. She took All-Big 12 honors in the all-around competition and on the vault. Landgraf finished fourth on vault (9.85), eighth on uneven bars (9.825), seventh on balance beam (9.85) and eighth on the floor exercise (9.875).

Freshman Kristi Esposito finished in fifth place in the all-around competition (39.375) and she was the Big 12 champion on the uneven bars, tying for first with a 9.90. Esposito also was seventh on balance beam (9.85).

Vault -- NU went five for six on the vault, as Landgraf and senior Gina Bruce led the Huskers, each scoring a 9.85 and tying for fourth place to bring home All-Big 12 honors. Esposito added a 9.825, while freshman Michele Zabawa and freshman Stephanie Carter each scored a 9.80. The Huskers finished with the evening with a 49.125 in the event.

Uneven Bars -- The Huskers hit all of their bars routines, as Esposito led the Huskers with a 9.90 in the event and tied for first place in the event. The Slidell, La., native was the Big 12 champion in the event. Zabawa added a solid 9.875 and took fourth place to capture All-Big 12 honors in the event. Senior Tami Harris scored a 9.85 and Landgraf scored a 9.825. he Huskers finished the event with a team total of 49.20, which ranks fourth on NU’s Big 12 Championship records.

Balance Beam -- The Huskers struggled on the balance beam, as two of the first three Huskers, Carter and Zabawa, fell during their routines. Junior Jamie Saas, who posted a 9.875 and tied for fifth place, led the Huskers. In addition, Esposito and Landgraf both scored 9.85, while Harris added a 9.75 to the Huskers’ effort. The team finished the event with a 48.60.

Floor Exercise -- NU went six for six in the event with each gymnast scoring above 9.70, as Carter and Landgraf led the Huskers. Carter scored a career-high 9.875 for the Huskers, while Landgraf added another 9.875, and Bruce and Saas both scored 9.85. In addition, Esposito scored a 9.80 and Harris scored a 9.70, as NU totaled a 49.25.

Vault
Michele Zabawa ? 9.80
Kristi Esposito ? 9.825
Libby Landgraf ? 9.85
Stephanie Carter ? 9.80
Gina Bruce ? 9.85
Tami Harris ? 9.175
Team Total ? 49.125

Uneven Bars
Michele Zabawa ? 9.875
Tami Harris ? 9.85
Libby Landgraf - 9.825
Kristi Esposito ? 9.90
Gina Bruce ? 9.725
Natasha Gowda ? 9.75
Team Total ? 49.20

Beam
Stephanie Carter ? 9.15
Libby Landgraf ? 9.85
Michele Zabawa ? 9.275
Tami Harris ? 9.75
Kristi Esposito ? 9.85
Jamie Saas ? 9.875
Team Total ? 48.60

Floor Exercise
Gina Bruce ? 9.85
Stephanie Carter ? 9.875
Libby Landgraf ? 9.875
Kristi Esposito ? 9.80
Tami Harris ? 9.70
Jamie Saas ? 9.85
Team Total ? 49.25