
Banda-Scott Lands Perfect 10 On Senior Day
3/9/2008 12:00:00 AM | Women's Gymnastics
March 9, 2008
Final Stats
Post-meet audio:
Head Coach Kathie Rhiannon Rochelle
East Lansing, Mich. - Michigan State posted its highest team score of the season, highlighted by Rhiannon Banda-Scott's perfect 10 on the vault, to post a 196.35-193.475 victory over New Hampshire on Sunday afternoon at Jenison Field House. Banda-Scott's performance set the tone for the afternoon in the first rotation, as the Spartans took a lead in the vault and never looked back. Banda-Scott and fellow seniors Bethany Little and Megan McNally were honored in a pre-meet ceremony to mark their final Jenison Field House appearance of their Spartan careers.
The day started off on a strong note, as Banda- Scott recorded the program's second-ever perfect 10. Sixth in the Spartan rotation on the apparatus, she finished off the event for MSU with her perfect score. Banda-Scott was not the only one to excel in the event, as Emily Lapatofsky recorded a personal-best of 9.825, while both Nicole Curler and Rochelle Robinson each also posted 9.825. The Spartans posted a 49.25 on the vault, compared to 48.825 for UNH, as the Wildcats' top scorer was Helena Diodati (9.850).
Banda-Scott's 10 is the second in program history, as then-freshman Rochelle Robinson posted one in the vault at the Fox Run Invitational last year in Durham, N.H.
Two Michigan State athletes set personal bests in the bars, as Robinson was MSU's top scorer with a 9.875, with Nicole Argiros posting a 9.825 to help the team to a 48.975. Lopatofsky and Megan Bergland each posted 9.775s to contribute to MSU's team score of 48.975; New Hampshire posted a 47.45, and Rebekah Porter was the top scorer with 9.750.
The beam score for the Spartans was 48.900, with the individual title going to Curler with a 9.90. Kelsey Morley checked in with a 9.80. UNH had a 9.850 from Chelsea Steinberg and a 9.8 from Keeley Smith for a team score of 48.55.
The Spartans finished out the afternoon on floor, where four athletes posted personal bests: Lapotofsky (9.90), Robinson (9.875), Kathryn Mahoney (9.850), and Morely (9.80). The Spartans posted a 49.225, while UNH's Keeley Smith had a 9.825 to contribute to a 48.650.
Competing in the all-around for the first time this season, Robinson posted a 39.325, compared to Chelsea Steinberg for UNH, who recorded a 38.2.
The Spartans will travel to SEC country for the final two meets of the regular season. MSU will compete at Auburn on March 15, then at Arkansas on March 21. The Spartans will then gear up for the Big Ten Championships, which will be hosted by the University of Michigan on March 29.