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North Carolina
University of Oklahoma
Carolina Hosts Oklahoma, Ball State in Home Opener
January 18, 2019 | Women's Gymnastics
CHAPEL HILL- N.C. — North Carolina women's gymnastics team looks to keep its undefeated record as it hosts No. 1 Oklahoma and Ball State at it's home opener and annual Women's Day and Pink Meet on Saturday, January 19 at 2 p.m. The meet will take place in Carmichael Arena and is free for the public. Fans are encouraged to wear pink.
"Our gymnasts are very excited to compete," said Carolina head coach Derek Galvin. "I know for our gymnasts there is a bit of nervousness, there always is before every meet but, we've got an amazing opportunity to step out on the floor and show what we are capable of doing."
The Tar Heels hope to keep momentum after placing first at the Lindsey Ferris Invitational last weekend in Washington, D.C. With a score of 194.125, Carolina edged out EAGL foe George Washington (193.525), Ball State (193.200) and Cornell (190.750) to improve to 3-0 (1-0 EAGL).Â
Carolina gymnastics is proud to be able to promote the resources that are offered for women on campus during their Women's Day. During the meet, organizations that have resources available to women on campus will be set up in the concourse for fans to learn about. Organizations that are in the concourse will be Get Real and Heel, Carolina Women's Center and Zeta Tau Alpha sorority.
In addition to Women's Day, the team will be in pink leotards in honor of Pink Meet. The Pink Meet honors courageous women and men who have fought breast cancer. Fans are encouraged to wear pink along with the team to honor survivors.Â
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LAST WEEK
Carolina Gymnastics opened the 2019 season with a first place finish on the road at the Lindsey Ferris Invitational against George Washington (193.525), Ball State (193.200) and Cornell (190.750) with a score of 194.175 on Sunday afternoon in Washington, D.C. The Tar Heels posted 14 Top-10 finishes across all four events highlighted by first place finishes in vault and floor exercise.Â
"Coach Denick, coach Sibson and I were pleased with how the team performed for the first meet of the season," said head coach Derek Galvin. "It's been a fun trip for the team. The team performed well. The goals we set before the meet were accomplished, competing with confidence and to compete #asONE."
North Carolina opened the meet scoring a 48.150 on parallel uneven bars. Strong performances from Grace Donaghy and Rylie Dewhurst led the Heels. Donaghy placed third with a score 9.750 while Dewhurst scored a 9.725 to earn a seventh place finish. Megan Ruzicka, McKenna Appleton and Drew Aldridge all made their first appearances in Carolina blue scoring 9.650, 9.400, 9.625, respectively.Â
On balance beam, Carolina scored 48.550 to earn second place of the four teams. An evenly-balanced Tar Heel lineup had five Tar Heels in the top-10. Khazia Hislop placed fourth with a score of 9.750. Four Tar Heels, Donaghy, Alexis Allen, Appleton and Jamie DeCicco placed sixth with scores fo 9.700. Dewhurst rounded out the Tar Heels with a score of 9.650.
The Tar Heels best performance of the day came on floor exercise in the third rotation with a score of 49.125. Senior Madison Hargrave and Hislop shared the first place podium with scores of 9.875, matching Hargrave's career high. Lily Dean placed fourth on floor with a score of 9.850. Mikayla Robinson and Jamie Antinori rounded out the scoring Tar Heels on floor with 9.800 and 9.725, respectively.Â
Carolina went into the last rotation tied with Ball State and needed a strong score on vault to take home the win. The Tar Heels delivered with the second highest vault score of the day, a 48.350. Hislop took home the first place honors on vault with a score of 9.825, her second first-place finish of the day. Hargrave's 9.725 and Robinson's 9.700 provided them with top-5 finishes as well in fourth and fifth, respectively. Aldridge had a strong showing with a 9.600, earning tenth place. Ruzicka also contributed 9.500 to the Tar Heels' total.Â
"This is certainly going to continue to help bolster their confidence," Galvin We were pleased with the assertiveness and composure they showed in competition. If we can keep that mentality going forward they are going to continue have fun and do well." Â
THE OPPONENTS
Facing in back to back meets, Carolina was able to see what Ball State (1-2) brought to the table. The Cardinals led the Lindsey Ferris Invitational through the first two rotations. Their effort and ability did not go unnoticed by the Tar Heel staff, who said they are just one rotation away.Â
"Ball State has a very good team," said Galvin. "They looked very solid on three events and I know they went back and they worked on that fourth event. They're going to be good. They've got the talent and the coaching so we have to come prepared to match that."
Oklahoma (2-0) comes into Chapel Hill fresh off two top-15 wins holding the No. 1 spot across college gymnastics. The Sooners hold the top team scores in the nation on vault and balance beam. Individually, Oklahoma is led by Maggie Nichols, the top all-around performer in the country.Â
"They are a force in college gymnastics and they have been for many years," Galvin stated. "The exciting thing for us is we will be competing on the same floor as them. It gives us an opportunity to celebrate this sport. We want our fans to see that big time college gymnastics is here- it is in Chapel Hill.Â
Players Mentioned
