Pitt
West Virginia
Panthers Down No. 21 WVU in Backyard Brawl
1/13/2017 12:00:00 AM | Women's Gymnastics
Meet Results
PITTSBURGH - Despite a comeback attempt from the 21st-ranked Mountaineers, the University of Pittsburgh women's gymnastics team held strong over its heated rival, Friday evening at the Fitzgerald Field House, downing West Virginia by a score of 194.025-193.875.
The win snaps a 51-meet losing streak for the Panthers as their last win over the Mountaineers came in the 1992 season.
The Panthers collected four individual event titles on the evening, as Rachel Dugan won the uneven bars, Brittany West and Kelly Burak tied on beam and Tracey Pearson earned a win on floor and took the all-around title with a score of 38.575.
"That was so hard and so much fun," said head coach Debbie Yohman. "The kids did such a good job, but you really have to stay on top of your toes and you have to keep working and you can't let it down and that's what the kids did. We've been teaching them that for a long time."
The Panthers tallied a total of 194.025 points in the four events, with their best performance coming on bars, earning a 48.900. Pitt tallied a 48.425 on vault, a 47.975 on beam and a 48.725 on floor.
VAULT
Pitt kicked things off with an impressive showing on vault, led by senior Pearson, who finished third with a score of 9.825. Ellie Pikula and West tied for fourth place, each earning a score of 9.675.
The Mountaineers would narrowly outscore the Panthers on vault, earning a 48.800 team score, as Kirah Koshinski won the event with a 9.850.
BARS
Freshman Dugan continued to shine for the Panthers as she dominated her way to a first-place showing on uneven bars, registering a score of 9.850. Teammates Pearson and Taylor Laymon each earned scores of 9.825 to place second. Sophomore Lucy Brett (9.775), freshman Megan Tripp (9.750) and junior Dani Hall would (9.700) place fourth through six, respectively.
The Panthers pushed past the Mountaineers on bars by a team score of 48.900-47.800. West Virginia's top finisher on bars took third, as Tiara Wright earned a 9.800.
BEAM
Burak and West led the Panthers on beam as the duo tied for first, each posting scores of 9.825. Freshman Lucy Jones and senior Erika Reichert tied for fifth place with scores of 9.575, while Pearson captured sixth with a 9.175.
"That's what they (Burak and West) are in the lineup for," added Yohman. "Our beam lineup did better and I can't ask for more than that."
The Mountaineers recorded a 48.425 on beam, as Carly Galpin would tie with Burak and West for the top spot.
FLOOR
Pearson would earn the top spot on floor, tying with West Virginia's Koshinski with a 9.875. Hall placed second in the final event for the Panthers, earning a 9.825. The Panthers would take fourth and fifth places as well, as Charli Spivey and Reichert each posted scores of 9.725 and 9.700, respectively.
Led by Koshinski, West Virginia earned a team score of 48.850 on floor, as the Mountaineers earned a tie for third and fifth places as well.
UP NEXT
Pitt will take to the road for the first time in the 2017 season, traveling to Durham, NH for a tri-meet with EAGL rival New Hampshire and Southern Connecticut. The Panthers will return home to Fitzgerald Field House on Jan. 27, hosting North Carolina in an EAGL battle.
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