Semifinals - Friday, April 15, 2011 • 10 a.m. (MT)

Individual Event Finals - Sunday, April 17, 2011 • 11 a.m. (MT)

 Wolstein Center • Cleveland, Ohio

Web: www.DenverPioneers.com/Live Video at NCAA.com

NCAA Championships

Junior Brianna Springer (Arvada, Colo.) and freshman Jorie Hall (Denver, Colo.) will represent the University of Denver as individuals after turning in top performances in the NCAA North Central Regional Championship at Magness Arena on April 2. Making her second appearance as an individual at an NCAA Championship for DU, Springer advanced after finishing as the second all-around competitor not on a qualifying team, posting a score of 39.250. Hall tied with Bekah Gher from Boise State in the balance beam, scoring a career-best 9.900 and punching her first ticket to nationals.

PIONEER RANKINGS

Junior Brianna Springer (Arvada, Colo.) leads DU in the All-Around with an average score of 38.848, putting her in a tie for 21st in the nation and third in the region. Springer is also ranked second in the region and tied for 22nd in the nation on floor with an average score of 9.787. Freshman Jorie Hall (Denver, Colo.) is tied for 67th in the nation with a 9.875 average on balance beam.

INDIVIDUAL QUALIFIERS

Hall and Springer are Denver's 14th and 15th individual NCAA qualifiers since turning Division I in 1984. Springer first qualified last year along with Kelley Hennigan, who also qualified in 2009 along with Jessica Lopez. Karen Beer qualified in 1984, followed by Jeanne Hoffman (1991), Donna Elliot (1992), Sachi Ena (2000), Jenny Ebdon (2000), Melanie Schiff (2000), Ashley Shible (2002 and 2004), Michelle Kasuga (2003), Heather Huffaker (2004 and 2005) and Casey Dobyns (2004 and 2006).

2011 NCAA NORTH CENTRAL REGIONAL

Freshman Jorie Hall (Denver, Colo.) claimed a share of the balance beam title, joining junior Brianna Springer (Arvada, Colo.) in qualifying for the NCAA National Championships, as No. 19 Denver recorded a 195.625 to finish fourth at the 2011 NCAA North Central Regional Championships in front of a home crowd of 2,756 on April 2 at Magness Arena.

Hall tied Bekah Gher from Boise State University in the balance beam, scoring a career-best 9.900 and punching her first ticket to nationals. Springer finished with a 39.250 as the second all-around competitor not on a qualifying team. She will be making her second appearance as an individual at nationals.

"I am so proud of Jorie and Brianna. They have worked so hard to get to this point and tonight it really paid off," head coach Melissa Kutcher-Rinehart said. "Of course it is disappointing not to be going to nationals as a team, but we performed well tonight and I am so proud of this team."

No. 12 Arkansas upset No. 1 Florida and took the regional title with a score of 196.550. The Gators posted a 196.425 and No. 13 Boise State finished third at 196.400. Arkansas and Florida will compete at the NCAA National Championships held in Cleveland, Ohio on April 22-24.

Denver opened the competition on the uneven bars, putting together five good performances, including a 9.850 from Springer. The Pioneers were fourth after the first rotation, posting a 48.725. Denver moved to the balance beam for its second rotation, scoring a 48.950. Hall's 9.900 was Denver's best and the Pioneers remained in fourth place after two full rotations.

Springer, freshman Kaitlin Moorhead (Palo Alto, Calif.) and senior Kristina Coccia (Bethlehem, Pa.) all recorded scores of 9.850 in the floor exercise and helped Denver post a 49.125 score. Denver finished the night on the vault and freshman Moriah Martin scored a 9.825 to lead the Pioneers. Denver finished with a 48.825 in the event.

"We are starting to get this program to where we want it. We are a young group and I am really proud of the way everyone stepped up tonight," Kutcher-Rinehart added.

Arizona finished fifth with a score of 195.400, while Brigham Young placed sixth with a 194.650. 

Denver will return 10 of its 14 student-athletes in 2011-12. Saturday's meet marked the final competition for seniors Coccia, Taylor Sanford (Omaha, Neb.), Annamari Maaranen (Tampere, Finland) and Amanda Johanson (Park City, Utah).

2010 NCAA CHAMPIONSHIPS

Last year, Brianna Springer (Arvada, Colo.) and Kelley Hennigan (The Woodlands, Texas) both finished in the top 20 in the all-around at the semifinals of the 2010 NCAA Championships at the University of Florida's Stephen C. O'Connell Center.

Springer posted a 9.800 on vault and bars and a 9.725 on beam. Her best event was floor, where she scored a 9.850 to finish tied for 13th place. Springer finished in 11th place with an all-around score of 39.175. Hennigan recorded a 9.750 on vault, 9.775 on bars, 9.700 on beam and 9.350 on floor to finish with a 38.575 for 20th place in the all-around.

2010 SEASON REVIEW

Denver finished the regular season ranked No. 22 in the nation, holding a Regional Qualifying Score (RQS) of 195.525. The RQS is a combination of team's top three away scores, top three other scores (home or away) with the high tossed out and the remaining five scores averaged. To determine the post-season national rankings, the RQS is added to the team's regional score, giving the Pioneers a National Qualifying Score of 391.700 and a ranking of No. 15.

On individual events, Denver finished the season tied for 17th on beam (48.945), 23rd on bars (48.910), tied for 24th on beam (48.975), and 25th on floor (48.985). In the individual rankings, Brianna Artemev (Arvada, Colo.) finished the regular season ranked 31st in the all-around with an RQS of 39.200 and tied for 42nd on bars (9.850). Kelley Hennigan (The Woodlands, Texas) was tied for 67th on vault (9.840). She and Taylor Sanford (Omaha, Neb.) were also tied for 76th on beam (9.810). Kristina Coccia (Bethlehem, Pa.) wrapped up 2010 tied for 43rd on floor with a 9.865 RQS.