DENVER - The University of Denver women's gymnastics squad posted a score of 193.700 against the University of Georgia Gym Dogs on Friday evening at the Stegeman Coliseum in Athens, Ga. The Gym Dogs won the event with a score of 196.525.

"I think it was first meet jitters," said head coach Melissa Kutcher-Rinehart. "It was a great experience for us, good to be on the road, and good to compete with this type of crowd and environment.  I think there were a lot of positives. Ellese Sakai-Hart (Aptos, Calif.) did a great job opening as a freshman away from home. There is still a whole lot of room to improve, but that's what we'll go back to the gym and work on."

Senior Louise Mercer (Nottingham, England) led the Pioneers on Bars in the first rotation with a 9.775, but the Gym Dogs excelled in their opening event and took a 49.225-47.550 lead after the first rotation.

A trio of sophomores performed great routines on Vault for the Pioneers in the second rotation. Moriah Martin (Lake Mary, Fla.) posted the highest DU score on Friday evening with a 9.900. Kaitlin Moorhead (Palo Alto, Calif.) tied a career-high on Vault with a 9.800. Melodie Pulgarin Linero (Barcelona, Spain) also scored a 9.800 in the event, and the Pioneers headed into the third rotation trailing, 98.475-96.575.

Coming off a trip to Nationals on Beam a year ago, sophomore Jorie Hall (Denver, Colo.) led the Pioneers on Floor with a career-high 9.800.  Moorhead added a 9.775, but the Pioneers trailed 147.600-145.300 heading into the final rotation.

Junior Simona Castro (Santiago, Chile) led DU on the fourth rotation with a 9.750 on Beam, followed by a 9.725 by Sakai-Hart

Georgia junior Noel Couch won the All-Around with a 39.275.  Pulgarin Linero led the group of three all-arounders with a 38.775, edging Castro who finished with a 38.750.

To go along with her strong Beam performance, Sakai-Hart competed in two other events in her Pioneer debut, finishing with a 9.750 on Vault and a 9.750 on Floor.

The Pioneers will continue on the road, traveling to Lincoln, Neb., next Friday for a dual meet with the Cornhuskers. 

Individual and season tickets are on sale for the 2012 season. For information, please visit www.DenverPioneers.com or call the Ritchie Center Box Office at (303) 871-2336.

Notes: Castro will travel to London, England this week to compete in a 2012 Olympic Test Event. Castro will rejoin the Pioneers next week at Nebraska.