McQuillin wins all-around title as Arkansas falls

Jump to agate DENVER, Colo. – The 13th-ranked University of Arkansas scored a near-miss on the road against No. 12 Denver, falling in non-conference gymnastics action 194.425-193.725 in Hamilton Gymnasium Saturday. Arkansas, 4-6 overall and 2-4 in Southeastern Conference action, was paced by all-arounder junior Dana McQuillin. McQuillin won her first all-around title of the year scoring a 38.950 edging a pair of Denver opponents. McQuillin also won the bars title and was third on the beam. “We didn’t perform well as a team,” said co-head coach Mark Cook, “however, Dana did step up and do well in the all-around. This was definitely a mental letdown. We need to focus better in the home stretch. We didn’t do a good job in adapting well to adverse situations. We’re going to work on that and try to be a little stronger down the stretch.” The Gym’Backs opened the meet on the bars with McQuillin posting a 9.775. But a long delay by the judges before McQullin’s score was posted forced freshman Samantha Cortez to wait to begin. The Verona, N.J., native took an extra swing and then fell on her landing scoring a 9.025 for Arkansas. Another delay following sophomore Cassie Drew’s routine forced junior Katie Hardman to wait while Drew’s 9.675 was posted. Hardman responded with a 9.675 while Denver’s vault continued uninterrupted. Junior Melissa Leigh stepped up after a 9.9 vault from Pioneer Casey Dobyns and, again after a delay, fell on her last release scoring a 9.075. Freshman Emily Peacock wrapped up the bars posting a 9.575 as the Gym’Backs recorded a season-low 47.80 on the bars. Drew, Machnik and Loveless tied for third overall on the event. The Gym’Backs moved on to vault putting the bars behind them. Drew opened with a solid 9.775 followed by a nearly perfect vault with a stuck landing from McQuillin earning the Orange Park, N.J., native a 9.75. Junior Hannah McLeod added a 9.65 followed by a 9.775 from freshman Mallory Machnik seemed to have the Gym’Backs heading back in the right direction. Junior Audra Loveless finished with a 9.775 as the Gym’Backs posted a 48.725 on the vault for 96.525 after two rotations. Arkansas got a little help from Denver with their first gymnast falling on her landing and a second Pioneer coming off the bars during her routine. But the Pioneers rebounded with back-to-back 9.75s keeping the scores close. The final bar worker for Denver also fell but still scored a 9.3 allowing Denver a 96.900-96.525 lead after two events. Sophomore Rachel Barnett jump started Arkansas on the floor with an energized, flawless routine scoring a season-best 9.80 for the Gym’Backs. Peacock was up next but had to wait while scorekeepers corrected a lineup for the judges. The pause didn’t affect the first-year gymnast who recorded a 9.625. McQuillin, Arkansas’ lone all-arounder, followed with a 9.625 for the Gym’Backs. Denver, meanwhile, was solid on beam peaking with a 9.85 from Sasha Sullivan and finishing with a 48.275 on beam. Machnik’s opening tumbling pass was explosive and drew rave reviews from the Denver crowd. Her second pass was equally as good and the Monroe, La., native posted a 9.80 to help the Gym’Backs. Hardman wrapped up the floor for Arkansas with a 9.85 as the Gym’Backs edged ahead 145.225-145.175. Hardman finished tied for third on the floor. Arkansas next moved to its best event of the year, the beam, leading off with McQuillin who was smooth equaling her season-best with a 9.800. Arkansas stumbled a bit on beam with a 9.575, 9.475 and a 9.425 as the Pioneers made a charge on the floor with a 9.750 to open followed by a 9.80 and 9.85 as they closed the gap. McLeod got Arkansas back into the meet tying her season-best with a 9.85 followed by Hardman’s 9.80 giving the Gym’Backs a 48.50 on beam. Hardman and McQuillin tied for third on the beam while McLeod finished tied for first. The Lady Razorbacks return home hosting No. 35 Missouri March 13, in the first of two consecutive home events. Arkansas hosts the Arkansas Quad welcoming No. 1 Nebraska, No. 4 UCLA and No. 11 Oregon State March 19. For more information or tickets please call the Lady Razorback Ticket Office at 57-LBACK or log on to LADYBACKS.COM.No. 13 Arkansas at No. 12 DenverHamilton Gymnasium. Denver, ColoradoSaturday, March 05, 2005Denver 194.425, Arkansas 193.725ROTATION 1ARKANSAS (Bars): 47.800 (Dana McQuillin 9.775, Samantha Cortez 9.025, Cassie Drew 9.70, Katie Hardman 9.675, Melissa Leigh 9.075, Emily Peacock 9.575).DENVER (Vault): 48.925 (Gretchen Goerlitz 9.70, Cassidy Willingham 9.65, Stephanie Lorber 9.725, Courtney Butler 9.75, Casey Dobyns 9.90, Heather Huffaker 9.85).ROTATION 2ARKANSAS (Vault): 48.725 (Cassie Drew 9.775, Dana McQuillin 9.75, Hannah McLeod 9.65, Mallory Machnik 9.775, Samantha Cortez 9.05, Audra Loveless 9.775).DENVER (Bars): 47.975 (Cassidy Willingham 9.025, Sasha Sullivan 9.75, Casey Dobyns 9.425, Heather Huffaker 9.75, Stephanie Lorber 9.75, Courtney Butler 9.30).RUNNING SCORE: Denver 96.900, Arkansas 96.525ROTATION 3ARKANSAS (Floor): 48.700 (Rachel Barnett 9.80, Emily Peacock 9.625, Dana McQuillin 9.625, Samantha Cortez 9.050, Mallory Machnik 9.80, Katie Hardman 9.85).DENVER (Beam): 48.275 (Tiffany Tello 9.60, Becca Breitholle 9.725, Gretchen Goerlitz 9.425, Sasha Sullivan 9.85, Cassidy Willingham 9.675, Heather Huffaker 9.35).RUNNING SCORE: Arkansas 145.225, Denver 145.175ROTATION 4ARKANSAS (Beam): 48.500 (Dana McQuillin 9.80, Melissa Leigh 9.575, Emily Peacock 9.475, Cassie Drew 9.425, Hannah McLeod 9.85, Katie Hardman 9.80).DENVER (Floor): 49.250 (Cassidy Willingham 9.75, Stephanie Lorber 9.80, Gretchen Goerlitz 9.85, Heather Huffaker 9.825, Casey Dobyns 9.875, Sasha Sullivan 9.90).