DENVER The No. 22 University of Denver Pioneers fell to No. 8 Oklahoma 196.025-194.825 before 1,337 fans at the Burnsley Invitational/Link to Pink meet in Hamilton Gymnasium on Saturday night.
The team nearly cancelled the meet after battling the flu and being unable to practice all week, but the Pioneers stepped up to the challenge and competed.
“I’m extremely proud of the effort the team put forth tonight,” head coach Melissa Kutcher-Rinehart said. “After sporadic practices this week and over half of the team sick with the flu, we considered cancelling a meet for the first time in my career. We didn’t though, and everyone came together.”
Senior All-American Jessica Lpez (Caracas, Venezuela) won her third consecutive all-around title with a 39.250. Lpez tied for second on beam (9.825), tied for fourth on vault (9.800), took fourth on bars (9.825) and placed fifth on floor (9.800).
A trio of Pioneers posted personal best scores against the Sooners. Sophomore Amanda Johanson (Park City, Utah) started the meet for the Pioneers with a personal best 9.750 on vault, and freshman Louise Mercer (Nottingham, England) tied for second on bars with a personal best 9.850.
Sophomore Kristina Coccia (Bethlehem, Pa.) earned a 9.775 on floor to tie her personal best. Denver also won the team title on floor and tied its season-best 48.975.
Johanson posted DU’s best finish of the night, tying for first on floor with a 9.850. Oklahoma’s Kristin Smith and Jacqueline Flanery joined Johanson in first place.
Junior Kelley Hennigan (The Woodlands, Texas) led the Pioneers on vault with a third place 9.825.
“I know the adversity we have fought through over the last month and a half will benefit us in the long run,” Kutcher-Rinehart said. “Tonight we accomplished our main goal of dropping our lowest score, and I know we will be better in the long run because of what we’ve gone through.”
Denver will continue to shuffle around its lineup next weekend as Lpez will miss the competition while competing in the 2009 Tyson All-American Cup in Chicago.
The Pioneers host Texas Women’s College next Saturday, Feb. 21 at 6 p.m. in Hamilton Gymnasium, before spending two consecutive weeks on the road at Pittsburgh and Arizona.
- PIONEERS -
