No. 12 NU Falls to No. 6 Oklahoma

Norman, Okla. ? The No. 12 Nebraska women’s gymnastics team won three individual event titles, but it was not enough to propel NU past sixth-ranked Oklahoma in a 195.275-194.95 loss Friday night at the LloydNobleCenter. In front of a crowd of 1,238 fans, the Huskers recorded scores of 49.0 or better on vault and beam, but dropped to 3-2 on the year.

 

Senior Emily Parsons captured her fifth straight vault title with a 9.925, while also tying for second in the all-around (39.25) and bars (9.825). Senior Desire’ Sniatynski and sophomore Kathryn Howard tied for the beam title ? marking the first event crown of Howard’s Husker career ?  with a pair of 9.875 scores in NU’s final event.

 

Nebraska opened the meet on bars, where Parsons, sophomore Maria Scaffidi and freshman Brittnee Habbib led the way with scores of 9.825 for runner-up honors.  The Huskers were then forced to count two falls from Howard (9.225) and Snaitynski (9.075), earning a team total of 47.775 to Oklahoma’s first-rotation vault total of 49.075.

 

NU bounced back with a stronger showing on vault, where Parsons set the pace with a 9.925 to take the event title. Scaffidi finished third with a 9.825, followed by Sniatynski’s fifth-place 9.80. Junior Tricia Woo contributed a 9.775, and freshman Erin Davis rounded out the lineup with a 9.75. Nebraska wrapped up vault with a 49.025 and a running score of 96.85 behind OU’s 97.60 at the halfway point.

 

The Huskers continued on to the third rotation on floor, and Woo was the team’s top performer with a season-high mark of 9.875 for third place. Scaffidi followed with a sixth-place 9.825, and Sniatynski put up a 9.775. Habbib and Parsons matched scores of 9.70, helping NU to a 48.875 and a running score of 145.725 to the Sooners’ 145.95 heading into the final event.

 

Nebraska capped the evening on beam, where Sniatynski tallied a career-high 9.875 to tie with Howard for the event title. Habbib tied her season best (9.85) for third, and Woo added a fourth-place 9.825. Parsons finished in fifth with a 9.80, and NU totaled a season-high event score of 49.225 and a final team total of 194.95.

 

“I was pleased with our team’s effort tonight because they fought back after a shaky start on bars,” Head Coach Dan Kendig said. “I think we learned a little bit as a team on how to persevere through some tough routines. At the same time, I saw a lot of positives with the routines we hit today ? Maria’s leadoff on bars, Brittnee Habbib’s floor routine, Desire’ and Kathryn’s performances on beam. We’ll get back in the gym this week and build off those things for the Michigan meet next Thursday.”

 

Nebraska returns to action next Thursday, Feb. 7, for a dual with No. 5 Michigan. Competition is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. at the DevaneyCenter, with the NU gymnasts wearing pink leotards to honor the “Think Pink”-themed meet.

 

Name                                     Vault      Bars       Beam     Floor       All-Around

Erin Davis                             9.75        ---            ---            ---            ---

Brittnee Habbib                    ---            9.825      9.85        9.70        ---

Kathryn Howard                   ---            9.225      9.875      8.95        ---

Sabrina Long                       ---            ---            ---            ---            ---

Vanessa Meloche               ---            ---            ---            ---            ---

Emily Parsons                     9.925      9.825      9.80        9.70        39.25

Maria Scaffidi                        9.825      9.825      9.60        9.825      39.075

Stephanie Seich                  ---            ---            ---            ---            ---

Desire’ Sniatynski               9.80        9.075      9.875      9.775      38.525

Kylie Stone                            ---            ---            ---            ---            ---

Brittney Williams                  ---            ---            ---            ---            ---

Tricia Woo                             9.775      ---            9.825      9.875      ---

 

Team Scores                       Vault      Bars       Beam     Floor       Total

Nebraska                      49.075   47.775   49.225   48.875   194.95

Oklahoma                     49.025   48.575   48.35      49.325   195.275