Pitt Set to Face No. 14 Nebraska

PITTSBURGH – The University of Pittsburgh gymnastics team is set to take on No. 14 Nebraska this weekend at the Devaney Center in Lincoln, Neb.

THE MEET

The Panthers (4-9, 3-1 EAGL) will face the Huskers (5-1, 5-0 Big Ten) Saturday, Feb. 24. Action is set to begin at 8 p.m. EST.

LAST TIME OUT

Pitt placed third with a 195.250 in a tri-meet against West Virginia and Maryland.
The Panthers earned a season-high team score of 49.150 on floor in the meet, with freshman Haley Brechwald posting the team's first 9.900 of the season in the event.
Individually, two Pitt gymnasts earned event titles in the meet. Brechwald earned an individual title on bars after posting a season-high tying mark of 9.875. Senior Taylor Laymon earned her title on beam after posting a career-high 9.875 in the event.

RELEVANT RANKINGS

Pitt ranks fourth in the North East Region and 39^th in the nation with an average team score of 194.658 through six meets.
The Panthers rank 26^th in the nation on bars with a 48.825 and 31^st on floor at 48.917.
In the North East Region, Pitt ranks second on floor, third on bars, fourth on vault (48.638) and sixth on beam (48.279).
Individually, Brechwald ranks 39^th in the nation on floor with an average score of 9.867, 61^st in the all-around with a 39.033 and is tied for 65^th on bars with a 9.821. Senior Catie Conrad is tied for 73^rd on beam with a 9.808 and ranks 86^th in the all-around with a 38.865. Sophomore Megan Tripp ranks 73^rd on bars with a season average of 9.815 and sophomore Lucy Brett is tied for 84^th on bars with a 9.804.

CONFERENCE COMPETITION

The Panthers have competed against three EAGL foes so far this season. Pitt defeated New Hampshire, 196.225-195.175, in its record-setting dual meet Jan. 20. In the Panthers' home meet Feb. 3, they defeated Towson while falling to NC State. Pitt faced NC State for a second time in a quad meet at TWU Feb. 11, coming out with a 196.100-195.925 victory over the Wolfpack to improve to 3-1 in conference competition on the season.
Pitt is slated for two more meets against EAGL opponents in the regular season. The Panthers will face George Washington in a tri-meet March 11 before squaring off against North Carolina in a dual meet March 17.
The EAGL Championship is scheduled for March 24 at Towson.

A FRESHMAN TO FEAR

Brechwald has been named EAGL Rookie of the Week four times so far this season.
Brechwald has collected 11 individual titles through six meets. She earned the bars title in Pitt's most recent meet at WVU and took all-around title in Pitt's quad meet at TWU. Brechwald also earned the bars, floor and all-around title in Pitt's home meet against NC State, Temple and Towson. Versus New Hampshire, Brechwald took home the bars, floor and all-around title. Against Oregon State, she won vault, bars and the all-around title.
Brechwald is currently averaging scores of 9.867 on floor, 9.821 on bars, 9.767 on vault and 39.033 in the all-around.

YOU CAN COUNT ON CONRAD

Conrad has become a strong veteran leader in her first year with the Panthers, after spending her last three years at Eastern Michigan.
Conrad has collected four individual titles through six meets. She brought home the beam title in Pitt's quad meet at Michigan State, took bars and beam against New Hampshire and won bars in Pitt's season opener against Oregon State.
Conrad is currently averaging a 9.808 on beam and a 38.865 in the all-around.

PITT VERSUS NEBRASKA

Pitt will face Nebraska in the regular season for just the second time in program history, however the two teams have also faced each other twice in postseason competition.
The Panthers lone regular season matchup with the Huskers came in 1980, where Nebraska came out with a 128.950-127.350 victory over Pitt.
The two programs have also met twice in postseason competition, in 1979 and 2002, with the teams splitting their matchups.
Pitt's all-time records only include regular season and EAGL Championship meet results. NCAA Regional/National meets, in addition to AIAW Nationals & EAIAW Regionals, are not included.

SCOUTING NEBRASKA

The Huskers are 5-1 on the season and 5-0 in Big Ten competition. Most recently, Nebraska fell to No. 1 Oklahoma, 196.425-196.175, in a road dual meet Friday, Feb. 16.
As a team, Nebraska ranks eighth in the nation on beam (49.092), is tied for 11^th on vault (49.067), ranks 18^th on floor (49.117) and 19^th on bars (48.963).
Junior Sienna Crouse leads the team on vault with a season average of 9.896 (tied for sixth in the nation). Senior Grace Williams ranks first on beam with a 9.879 (tied for 11^th in the nation). Sophomore Taylor Houchin and junior Sienna Crouse are tied for the top spot on bars with a season average of 9.875 (tied for 17^th in the nation) and redshirt sophomore Catelyn Orel heads the team on floor with a 9.863 (ranks 42^nd in the nation).

UP NEXT

Pitt will return home to host its rivalry meet as the squad will welcome West Virginia and Penn State Sunday, March 4 at the Fitzgerald Field House for its final home meet of the season.

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