University of Minnesota Athletics
No. 22 Gophers Get Ready for No. 8 Arkansas
3/2/2010 12:00:00 AM | Gymnastics
The No. 22 Golden Gophers will host the No. 8 Arkansas Razorbacks on Saturday, March 6 at the Sports Pavilion. The meet will begin at 6 p.m. Fans can follow the meet online at gophersports.com.
National Rankings
Minnesota jumped 11 spots to No. 22 in the GymInfo National Rankings this week. In the event rankings, the Gophers are listed among the top 25 on the uneven bars (No. 13) and balance beam (No. 18).
This week's opponent, Arkansas, comes in at No. 8 this week, and is Minnesota's second opponent of the season ranked in the top 10 (No. 1 Alabama, Jan. 30). The Razorbacks are ranked No. 5 on beam, No. 9 on bars, and No. 11 on vault and floor.
Elm Vaults to the Top
Kendra Elm had her best vault score at Iowa State last weekend, earning a personal best 9.875 to win her first career vault title. Her vault score is the best by a Gopher gymnast this season.
Ennis Wins All Around
Sophomore Lucy Ennis first competed in the all around against Illinois on Feb. 20 and has remained in the line up on all four events since then. On Sunday, she compiled a personal-best score of 39.10 to win her first all around title.
Furukawa Reaches 9.90
Captain Kristin Furukawa earned the first of her 9.90 scores on balance beam against Iowa on Feb. 20, and matched it against Iowa State last Friday. Both performances were good for first-place finishes. Furukawa added to her list of 9.90 scores with a season-best on the uneven bars at Iowa on Sunday, also good for an event win.
Furukawa owns the team’s top scores on both bars and beam this season. Bars Success
Minnesota’s highest national ranking is on uneven bars, where the Gophers are ranked No. 13 this week. The Gophers have tallied bars scores of 49 or better at four meets this season. The last time Minnesota had that many bars scores of 49-plus was in 2004, when it compiled six scores above 49.
In last weekend’s two meets, nine of the 12 individual bars scores were 9.80 or better.
The Trend Changes
Going into last weekend’s meets at Iowa State and Iowa, Minnesota had averaged 194.750 at home meets, but just 191.700 on the road. Last weekend’s away scores of 195.20 and 194.625 helped that statistic. After last weekend, the Gophers’ away meet average is up to 192.985.
Recap of Last Weekend: at Iowa
The Minnesota women’s gymnastics team defeated Iowa on the road, 194.625-194.20.
Minnesota competed on bars in the first rotation, and tallied its best bars score of the season with a 49.15, the team’s best event score on any event this season. Kristin Furukawa was the event champion, earning a season-high mark of 9.90. Furukawa’s bars score is the best by a Gopher gymnast this season. Kendra Elm and Lucy Ennis each earned a score of 9.825 to tie for second place. Janell Campbell and Yuri Nagai each earned 9.80, marking season-best scores for both gymnasts.
In the second rotation, the Gophers compiled a 47.95 on vault. Lucy Ennis was the team’s best performer, placing fourth overall with a 9.75.
Minnesota competed on floor in the third rotation, and again Ennis was the team’s top score. Ennis placed third overall with a 9.775 to tie her career-best score. As a team, the Gophers tallied a 48.675.
The Gophers finished the meet on balance beam, where they scored 48.85. Ana Balboa was the top performer, tying for second place with a 9.825. Kendra Elm was also in the top five, placing fourth with a 9.775.
In the all around competition, the Lucy Ennis won her first all around title, scoring 39.10, her personal best. Alexis Russell was third with a total of 38.675.
Recap of Last Weekend: at Iowa State
The Golden Gopher women’s gymnastics team earned its best score at an away meet this season when it tallied a 195.20 at Iowa State. The No. 13 Cyclones won the meet with a 195.475.
Kendra Elm was the team’s best performer on vault, earning a 9.875 to win the event and set a personal-best score. Elm’s vault score is the best by a Gopher gymnast this season. Lucy Ennis placed fifth with a 9.75. As a team, the Gophers scored 48.65.
Minnesota tied its best bars score this season with a 49.025. Kristin Furukawa was the team’s top scorer, earning a 9.85 to finish in third place. Furukawa’s score was her best this season. Kendra Elm, Alexis Russell and Lucy Ennis all earned scores of 9.80 or higher.
On beam, the Gophers tallied their best score of the season with a 49.10. Furukawa was again the team leader, earning a 9.90 to tie her personal best score and win the event. Her score ties the best beam score for the Gophers this season, after she also earned a 9.90 at home against Illinois last weekend. Alexis Russell earned her best beam score of the season with a 9.85 to place fourth. Kendra Elm and Ana Balboa each earned marks of 9.80.
Alexis Russell was the team’s best performer on floor, earning a 9.825 to place fourth. As a team, the Gophers tallied 48.425 on the floor.
Russell finished second in the all around with a total of 39.20, while Elm was third with a 39.00. It was the first time this season that two Gopher gymnasts score 39 or better at an away meet.
Players Mentioned
