Friday the 13th tough on Gym'Backs

Jumpto results COLUMBIA, Mo. – The 17th-ranked University of Arkansas gymnastics team suffered a 195.100-192.175 non-conference loss on the road at No. 14 Missouri as the Friday the 13th bug bit. Arkansas, in the midst of a three-meet road stand, struggled for much of the match with consistency and couldn’t take the largest opening crowd in Missouri history out of the meet. “I don’t’ want to make any excuses,” said co-head coach Mark Cook. “”We were shaky and had a lot of mental errors. But I know we’re going to get better.” “We had a lot of falls tonight and that’s disappointing,” added co-head coach Rene Cook. “I thought Sammy (Samantha Cortez) and Emily (Peacock) were outstanding. They competed the all-around even though it didn’t count and both did a good job.) Cortez and Peacock exhibitioned several events in the meet. Arkansas began the meet on the bars and scores were a bit low as the Gym’Backs got out to a slow start. Sophomore Peacock bettered her last week’s total with a team-best 9.875 but a couple stumbles on the landings limited the Arkansas scores. Missouri vaulted well to open with four scores better that 9.80 to take the early lead. For the second consecutive meet, Arkansas was solid on vault scoring a 48.750, just shy of the 48.875 tallied at the Hawai’i Invitational 10 days ago. Junior Cassie Drew’s 9.825 was the top Gym’Back score of the meet with the Raleigh, N.C., bettering her first meet performance by three-tenths of a point. She tied for second on theevent. Four of the six Gym’Backs’ scores were better than the first meet and Arkansas seemed to gain some ground early in the rotation. But Missouri roared back with a pair of 9.725s, a 9.80 and a 9.925 by Jodie Heinicka opening a 97.775-96.750 lead after two events. Rachel Barnett got the Missouri crowd of 2,897 cheering for the Gym’Backs with an explosive performance that earned the Oklahoma native a 9.775. Sophomore Samantha Cortez added a season-best 9.825 in a follow up that kept the Gym’Back momentum rolling. Cortez tied for the win on the event. But Arkansas stalled on the carpet and had to count a pair of falls slipping further behind the Tigers trailing 146.450-144.250 with one event remaining. Arkansas fought through the slow start with Peacock turning in a 9.60 on beam, historically the Gym’Backs strongest event. A couple of falls sandwiched around Barnett’s 9.775 and Drew’s 9.80 hurt Arkansas comeback efforts as the Tigers just got stronger on the floor in front of the home crowd. Senior Dana McQuillin took the second-place spot for the all-around while Drew was third. Arkansas’ road stand continues as the Gym’Backs travel to Athens, Ga., for their first Southeastern Conference meet of the season facing the defending national champion Bulldogs Friday, Jan. 20, at 6:00 p.m., Central. Arkansas opens the 2006 home season Friday, Jan. 27, hosting LSU at 7:00 p.m., in Barnhill Arena. Season tickets and tickets for the 2006 NCAA South Central Regional, hosted by the Gym’Backs, are currently on sale. For more information please call the Lady Razorback Ticket Office at 57-LBACK or log on to LADYBACKS.COM.