University of Minnesota Athletics
Meet Preview: Minnesota vs. Denver
1/5/2017 12:00:00 AM | Gymnastics
| #16 Minnesota vs. #14 Denver | |||||||||||
| Date | Saturday, Jan. 7 (6:30 p.m.) | ||||||||||
| Location | Sports Pavilion | Minneapolis, Minn. | ||||||||||
| Live Stats | http://z.umn.edu/wgymlive | ||||||||||
| Live Stream | BTN Plus | ||||||||||
| Tickets | mygophersports.com use promo code "Becca" for discount | ||||||||||
| Promotions | Club Gymnasts/Coaches Sign Up | Becca Taylor Community Day | ||||||||||
| Social Media | @GopherWGym | Facebook | Instagram | ||||||||||
The University of Minnesota women's gymnastics team will open their 2017 campaign as the host the Denver Pioneers on Saturday, Jan. 7 at the Sports Pavilion. The first rotation is slated to start at 6:30 p.m.
Scouting Denver
The University of Denver Pioneers enter 2017 with a No. 14 preseason ranking, just two spots above No. 16 Minnesota. Denver will travel nine to Minneapolis this week, including the program's three freshmen.
Last season, the Gophers were issued their lone loss of the 2016 season by Denver on the road, as the Pioneers edged out Minnesota 196.825-196.175. Minnesota went on to top Denver in the Minneapolis NCAA Regional to qualify for the 2016 NCAA Championships as a team.
Denver's Nina McGee won the NCAA Championship on floor, the program's first National Champion in program history. McGee was the Pioneers' lone representation at Nationals, and has since graduated. Denver finished the 2016 season with an overall record of 21-8-0.
In The Ranks & On The Watch
The Gophers were ranked No. 16 in the National Association of Collegiate Gymnastics Coaches/Women (NACGC/W) Preseason Coaches Poll. Minnesota also picked up a No. 3 ranking among Big Ten Conference teams as juniors Ciara Gardner and Abby DeMuse were named to the Big Ten Women's Gymnasts to Watch List.
Fresh Faces
The Gophers welcome eight newcomers, seven freshmen and one transfer, to the 2017 roster. The group includes rookies Casey Betts, Julia Huebert, Ivy Lu, Kristen Quaglia, Ryan Stach, Becca Taylor, Paige Williams, and University of Wisconsin-Stout junior transfer Steph Shields.
Players Mentioned
