Huskers Tally Four Individual Big 12 Event Titles, Post Season-High Score

Lincoln, Neb. – Nebraska posted a season-high 196.625and notched four event titles in a second place finish at the 2010 Big 12 Championships at the Bob Devaney Sports Center on Saturday. The Huskers fell to Oklahoma (197.175), but came out ahead of Missouri (195.90) and Iowa State (194.85).

“Remember how the last several meets I said that we did good and not great?” Head Coach Dan Kendig said. “I don’t know if I can say that today. We did better than good on floor; we were almost on the brink of great. We performed good routine after the other, we had no out of bounds, danced great, and I couldn’t be more pleased with our floor group coming out of the gate. To have the team hit that score in a championship, I am proud of this team.”

Juniors Maddie Steinauer and Erin Davis joined sophomore Lora Evenstad in a seven-way tie for the vault crown (9.90). The title was the first in all three gymnasts’ careers. Evenstad also tied for the Big 12 floor crown (9.90), giving her two event titles on the day.

Junior Maria Scaffidi came in second in the all-around standings (39.25), in addition to tying for fourth on floor (9.85) and hitting a career-high on vault (9.85).

“Maria did a very good job on all four events, she had a good day,” Kendig said. “The thing that impressed me the most was that she looked confident all the way through. It paid off for her.”

The top four finishers in each event, including the all-around, were also named to the All-Big 12 Championship Team.  Evenstad was named to the team for three events after finishing first on vault (9.90), third on bars (9.85) and first on floor (9.90). Steinauer and Davis also took home honors on vault for their first place finishes (9.90). Kassandra Nathe was included with a second place finish on beam (9.875), while Scaffidi was earned a spot after coming in second in the all-around (39.25).

Nebraska opened the meet on floor, where Evenstadled the way with a score of 9.90. Scaffidiadded a 9.85, and Steinauerhit a career-high-tying 9.825. Brittnee Habbib and Brittany Skinner both received marks of 9.80. Nebraska stood in first place (49.175), ahead of Oklahoma (49.10), Missouri (48.65) and Iowa State (48.575) after the first rotation.

The Huskers did not give up their lead as they moved on to vault. Nebraska saw three gymnasts hit career-high scores and earn conference titles. Steinauer, Scaffidi and Evenstad all posted career-high marks of 9.90, and Kristin Fyffe added a 9.85. NU totaled a season-high rotation score of 49.40, to hold onto first in the standings with a 98.575 ahead of the Sooners (98.50), Tigers (97.50) and the Cyclones (97.40) at the halfway point.

NU continued onto the third rotation on bars, where Evenstad tallied a 9.85. Habbib hit a 9.825, while Natheand Kathryn Howard notched 9.80s a piece. The Huskers headed into the final rotation in second place, with a score of 147.625. Oklahoma took the top spot (147.95), Missouri came in third (146.675) and Iowa State took the fourth spot (146.125).

Nebraska capped the day on beam, as Nathecame in second in the event standings and tied her career-best 9.875. Habbib hit a 9.825 and Howard tallied a 9.80. Scaffidi notched a 9.775, while Fyffe tallied a 9.725. The meet came to a close with the Huskers receiving an event score of 49.00 and a final score of 196.625 Oklahoma took the top spot with a 197.175, Missouri came in third, totaling a 195.90 and Iowa State tallied a 194.85 for fourth.

“This is no different than any other setback,” Kendig said. “This is where your true team character and chemistry come to play. I like where this team is at. It reminds me of our 2000 team who came in second at the Big 12 Championship and ended up winning regionals.”

Nebraska, which has won a total of 20 conference titles in school history, will await its fate with the announcement of the NCAA Regional fields on Monday, March 29.

 

Name                              Vault     Bars        Beam      Floor      All-Around

Hannah Bower                  ---            ---            ---            ---            ---

Erin Davis                        9.90         ---            ---            9.75         - --

Lora Evenstad                 9.90         9.85          ---            9.90          ---

Kristin Fyffe                    9.85           ---            9.725        ---            ---

Janelle Giblin                   ---            9.075          ---            ---             ---

Brittnee Habbib                ---            9.825          9.825       9.80         ---

Kathryn Howard                ---            9.80           9.80         ---             ---

Kassandra Nathe              ---            9.80           9.875       ---             ---

Maria Scaffidi                   9.85        9.775          9.775      9.85         39.25

Brittany Skinner               9.85            ---            ---            9.80         ---

Maddie Steinauer             9.90            ---            9.65        9.825        ---

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

 

Team Score                        Vault            Bars            Beam            Floor            Total

Oklahoma                        49.225            48.65            48.85            49.175         197.175

Nebraska                        49.40            49.05            49.00            49.175            196.625

Missouri                        49.225            48.65            48.85            49.175            195.90

Iowa State                     48.575            48.825            48.725            48.725        194.85