Baylor
Oregon
No. 1 A&T Soars Against No. 2 Oregon
2/21/2016 12:00:00 AM | Acrobatics & Tumbling
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WACO, Texas -
THE RUNDOWN
The top-ranked and defending national champion Baylor Acrobatics & Tumbling team (2-0) returned to the Ferrell Center Sunday to defeat the second-ranked Oregon Ducks (2-1), 278.935-274.450, in a rematch of last year's national championship.
Oregon had the edge following the compulsory event, scoring a 37.50 to Baylor's 37.25. The Bears soared in the acro event to take the lead 65.85-65.35 and never looked back. Before the half, the Bears held onto the lead in the pyramid event 94.75-94.55.
The Bears continued to excel in the toss event and kept the lead 124.000-123.500. Baylor stuck every landing in the tumbling event, 179.575-178.750.
In the final event of the meet, the 24-member team event, Baylor left it all on the mat to come away with the victory, 278.935-274.450
HIGHLIGHTS
- The Bears set an all-time attendance record with 1,551 fans at the meet. The previous record was 1,485, set against Oregon (4/12/15).
- The team of Kiara Nowlin, Lauren Sturm, Allie Alaman, Cearta Gray, Sydney Evans, Toni Bronisevsky, Jena Fisher, Kaelyn Cowan, Kelci Ortiz, Amanda Graceffa and Shayla Kelley earned a 9.90 in the toss heat in the compulsory event.
- The team of Shayla Kelley, Allie Alaman, Taylor Watson, Toni Bronisevsky and Ceara Gray posted a 9.85 in heat 3 of the toss event.
- Kaelyn Cowan tumbled her way to a 9.75 in the aerial pass of the tumbling event.
STAT OF THE DAY
Kiara Nowlin had another strong showing in the six element of the tumbling event, receiving a 9.975.
TOP QUOTES
"We have the best crowds at Baylor," head coach Felecia Mulkey said. "Not only do they just come, sit and watch, they yell and they scream and we love it. It was electric. We probably would've done it without them, but it was a lot more fun with them."
"It was so much fun. We just wanted to come out here and execute, and I feel like we did that pretty well," Kiara Nowlin said. "Of course there is always work to do, but we are pretty consistent. The crowd was amazing. It was the biggest crowd we have ever had, and they were so loud, especially during team routine. It was just incredible. That energy really gets you going, so to have that at the end and to finish it out was unreal."
WHAT'S NEXT
The Bears will welcome Alderson Broaddus to the Ferrell Center on March 6 at 1 p.m. (CT). The event may also be viewed online (subscription) at: Live Stream.
Follow @BaylorAcroTumb on Twitter for updates throughout the season.
