No. 15 Gym'Backs host Missouri this weekend

FAYETTEVILLE — The 15th-ranked University of Arkansas gymnastics team returns home for two in a row beginning with No. 32 Missouri in Barnhill Arena Sunday at 2:00 p.m. Arkansas enters the contest with a 4-6 overall record after back-to-back low scores against national powerhouse Alabama and Denver. The Tigers, however, have improved to 8-9 overall and have gone 7-1 against their last eight opponents. Missouri recently defeated Southeast Missouri State and won the Cat Classic, outscoring Illinois State, New Hampshire and Towson. "We’ve established a home-and-away with Missouri," said co-head coach Mark Cook. "They were able to beat us at there place last year and we are looking to take care of business in our house this weekend. They have been improving throughout the course of the season and this will be a competitive meet." Arkansas is coming off a meet at Denver that had mixed results. Junior all-arounder Dana McQuillin won her first individual title scoring a 38.950. Junior Hannah McLeod tied for the individual win on beam but as a team, the Gym’Backs didn’t score as well as they would have liked. "We really want to reestablish who we are as a team," said co-head coach Rene Cook. "We want to use this meet to fine-tune some things before a big quad meet and SECs. This is a bit of a rivalry because of the close proximity of the teams and we really want to focus on the little things this week." "The Denver meet was almost needed," said Mark Cook. "We have to through that experience to get to the next level. Now, we have to regain our composure and clamp down for the next couple of weeks." Arkansas will be busy in the remaining weeks of the season. The Gym’Backs host a top-notch quad meet Saturday, March 19, welcoming No. 2 Nebraska, No. 5 UCLA and No. 11 Oregon State to Barnhill Arena. The Gym’Backs follow up at the SEC Championship Saturday, March 26, in Duluth, Ga., and await an NCAA Regional bid the first week of April. For more information about Arkansas gymnastics or for tickets please call the Lady Razorback Ticket Office at 57-LBACK or log on to LADYBACKS.COM.