DENVER – The No. 18 University of Denver gymnastics squad posted a season-high 196.550 to defeat BYU, who inked a 196.425. Seniors Moriah Martin (Lake Mary, Fla.) and Jorie Hall (Denver, Colo.) each earned individual titles as they led all competitors on vault and beam.
Denver started the meet off strong, scoring five bars routines over 9.800 for a team total of 49.300, the team’s highest bars score of the season. The Pioneers were led with three 9.875’s from seniors Moriah Martin (Lake Mary, Fla.) and Melodie Pulgarin Linero (Barcelona, Catalunya, Spain) and junior Nina McGee (Cincinnati, Ohio). Freshman Julia Ross (Henderson, Nev.) earned a 9.850, a personal-best and sophomore Rachel Feeken (Tampa, Fla.) also finished with a career-high of 9.825.
The Pioneers showed no signs of slowing down as they finished the second rotation with a 49.075, anchored by Martin’s 9.900. Martin earned her third individual vault title of the season and 14th consecutive vault over 9.800. Senior Kaitlin Moorhead (Palo Alto, Calif.) earned a 9.825 respectively and Ross posted a 9.800, her second-career vault of 9.800 or higher. McGee and Pulgarin Linero earned matching 9.775’s to finish out Denver’s bar line-up.
Three Pioneers, Martin, Moorhead and sophomore Katie Menhinick (Paramus, N.J.), earned 9.825’s on floor to bring the team’s total to 48.975. Sophomore Maggie Laughlin (Scottsdale, Ariz.) added a 9.775, while junior Ellese Sakai-Hart (Aptos, Calif.) inked a 9.725 to add to the Pio’s total. Entering the final rotation, Denver trailed 147.350-147.500.
To finish out the night, Denver was led by senior Jorie Hall (Denver, Colo.), who tied her career-high and earned the individual event title with a 9.925 on beam. McGee followed Hall with a 9.875 to help bring the Pioneer’s beam total to 49.175. Freshman Leah Lomonte (Katy, Texas) earned a career-high 9.850 on beam, with Sakai-Hart posting a 9.800 in her first beam routine of the season. Ross brought in a 9.750 to the Pioneer’s total on beam.
The Pioneers return home on Saturday, Feb. 8 when they will take on North Carolina State and Southern Utah in Hamilton Gymnasium at 6 p.m.
All tickets can be purchased by calling (303) 871-4625, in person at the Ritchie Center Box Office or online at DenverPioneers.com.
-EXPERIENCE DENVER ATHLETICS-
Like Denver Pioneers and Denver Gymnastics on Facebook
Follow @DU_Pioneers and @DU_Gymnastics on Twitter
