Michigan State University Athletics
Burt Captures All-Around in Season Opener
1/10/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Gymnastics
EAST LANSING, Mich - - Michigan State fell on the road at Bowling Green State University in the 2015 season opener on Saturday, as the Falcons outscored the Spartans 194.775-194.075. Coming into the matchup, the Spartans were ranked 39th in the country, while the Falcons followed closely behind at 40th. This marks the first time the two teams have faced each other in a season opener, and the Spartans remain leaders in all-time series record, which now stands at 15-2.
"We came upon some adversity today with Alina [Cartwright] and Brittany [Holmes] not being able to do more than just bars," said head coach Kathie Klages. "It caused some stress on the competition floor, but our freshman Tori Huehn stepped in and did a great job. Lisa Burt had an outstanding meet, winning the all-around. We took a step in the right direction by making all the routines that counted toward our team score, which is much improved over last year."
MSU finished with a team score of 48.400 on bars, while BGSU earned a 48.675. Burt led the way for the Spartans earning a score of 9.800 and recording a second-place finish. Cartwright followed closely behind, placing fourth with a score of 9.725. Mackenzie Smith placed sixth in the event and topped her 2014 average, recording a score of 9.700. Kira Frederick competed on bars for the first time in her career, scoring a 9.600 and placing 10th.
On vault, the Spartans earned a score of 48.625 and the Falcons won the event with 48.850. Nicola Deans placed third with a score of 9.800. Elena Lagoski, who turned in a score of 9.750 and placed sixth, followed Deans. Both Burt and Anna Gamelo, who made her debut as a Spartan today, notched a score of 9.725 and took seventh and eighth place, respectively, in the event.
Transitioning to floor, the Spartans marked a team score of 48.375, following behind the Falcons who scored 48.65. Lagoski was the day's top finisher on the event, as she earned a score of 9.875. Burt followed Lagoski with a score of 9.750, earning third place. Frederick placed fifth, recording a 9.725 and topping her 2014 average score.
Competing on beam for the first time in her career, Frederick earned a first place finish with an impressive score of 9.850. Burt followed, notching a 9.750 and a fifth-place finish. Noll finished seventh in the event, scoring 9.700 which helped MSU capture the win by a 48.675-48.6 margin on beam.
Burt finished her day with a tie for first place with BG's Alyssa Nocella in all-around competition, earning a score of 39.025 for the Spartans. It was Burt's third career all-around title. Noll trailed Burt with a score of 38.250, placing fourth and earning a career-high score in all-around competition.
The Spartans open B1G competition against Iowa next Saturday, Jan. 18 at 2 p.m. in Iowa City, Iowa.
"We have some areas that we need to focus on this week in practice to make improvements for next week at Iowa," said Klages. "Though we suffered a loss, the team handled the adversity we faced today like pros."
