GYM v Oklahoma (29 JAN 15) - Full Meet

DENVER - The No. 20 University of Denver women's gymnastics team posted a 195.900 at home in Hamilton Gymnasium in a rare Thursday night meet. The visiting No. 1-ranked Oklahoma Sooners took the meet win with a 197.650.

Senior Nina McGee (Cincinnati, Ohio) won her fourth all-around title of the year, scoring a 38.875. She also finished top-three on floor (second, 9.925) and bars (third, 9.875).

"Overall I'm really pleased with the performance tonight," said head coach Melissa Kutcher-Rinehart. "As always, there are areas we need to continue to improve. However, for four meets in 13 days, I thought they did an outstanding job maintaining focus, energy and enthusiasm all the way through."

"Scores aside, our beam and bars performances were improved, and I thought overall our student-athletes looked confident."

Denver kicked off the meet on vault, posting a team total of 49.000, led by a 9.875 from sophomore Rachel Fielitz (Walden, N.Y.). Senior Ellese Sakai-Hart (Aptos, Calif) scored a 9.650 to start the rotation, which was followed by a 9.725 from sophomore Julia Ross (Henderson, Nev.) and a 9.775 from junior Emily Barrett (Norman, Okla.). McGee and freshman Nikole Addison (Lehigh Acres, Fla.) added a 9.825 and a 9.800, respectively.

For the second rotation, DU headed to the bars and scored the highest team score on the event this season (49.050). Barrett led off for the Pioneers with a 9.750. Unfortunately, junior Rachel Feeken (Tampa, Fla.) fell in her routine, only earning a 9.200, but the Pioneers fought together to ensure they would not have to count the fall. Junior Katie Menhinick (Paramus, N.J.) posted a 9.775, which was followed by 9.825s from Addison and Ross. McGee added the highest score for Denver on the event with a 9.875.

DU posted yet another season high, this time on beam with a 48.600, highlighted by a 9.775 from Fielitz and matching 9.725s from Sakai-Hart and Ross. Sophomore Leah Lomonte (Katy, Texas) scored a 9.675 in her only routine of the night. McGee had an uncharacteristic fall and scored a 9.250.

The Pioneers headed to floor to finish the meet, adding a 49.250, led by another 9.925 from McGee. All of the Pioneers' scores were 9.800 or higher, starting with 9.800s from Sakai-Hart and Menhinick. Fielitz scored a 9.825, and Addison and Laughlin posted identical 9.850s.

"I thought the composure the team showed was excellent," Kutcher-Rinehart said after the meet." No one was intimidated by hosting the No. 1 team in the nation."

"Now, we're going get some well-deserved recovery and then get back to the gym before taking it one day at a time going into February."

Denver begins back-to-back weekends on the road starting next Saturday, February 7, for an MRGC tri-meet at BYU with Boise State. The Pioneers then travel to the East Coast for the second time in 2015, this time to West Virginia on Friday, February 13. DU's only home meet in February is against BYU and Iowa on Saturday the 21st at 6 p.m. in Hamilton Gymnasium.

Tickets are still available for $9 for each meet. For ticket information, visit denverpioneers.com/tickets or call the Ritchie Center Box Office at 303-871-2336.

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