Wolverines Handed First Loss of Season by No. 17 Iowa

Saturday, January 22

Iowa City, Iowa

5:00 PM CT

Michigan

194.900

195.375

Iowa

Wolverines Handed First Loss of Season by No. 17 Iowa

1/22/2011 12:00:00 AM | Women's Gymnastics

Jan. 22, 2011

Complete Results

Site: Iowa City, Iowa (UI Field House)
Score: #17 Iowa 195.375, #7 Michigan 194.900
Records: U-M (5-1, 4-1 Big Ten), Iowa (3-2, 2-1)
Next U-M Meet: Saturday, Jan. 29 -- vs. Maryland, Kent State and Illinois-Chicago (Crisler Arena), 6 p.m.

IOWA CITY, Iowa -- The No. 7-ranked University of Michigan women's gymnastics team suffered its first loss of the year, falling, 195.375-194.900, at No. 17 Iowa on Saturday (Jan. 22) at the IU Field House.

Competing in the cozy confines of the UI Field House during renovations to Carver-Hawkeye Arena, the Wolverines counted a fall on the uneven bars to fall behind early then saw their lead evaporate in the final rotation after counting a fall on balance beam. Senior Kylee Botterman (New Lenox, Ill./Lincoln-Way Central) led the way again, taking the vault (9.925) and all-around (39.350) crowns, while fellow captain and fifth-year senior Jordan Sexton (Weddington, N.C./Weddington) took the balance beam title (9.925) and finished runner-up on bars (9.850) and floor exercise (9.825).

Michigan got off on the wrong foot with a 48.300 score on bars -- the team's lowest total in two seasons. Sexton (9.850) and Botterman (9.825) did their part to buoy the overall total, but theirs was the only score above 9.725.

The Wolverines bounced back with a 49.250 on vault to cut the deficit to 0.200 at the midway point with Botterman's 9.925 and sophomore Natalie Beilstein (Butler, Pa./Knoch) 9.900 leading the way. Sophomore Katie Zurales (Wheaton, Ill./Wheaton Warrenville South) nailed a 9.850 vault her first time in the lineup and freshman Joanna Sampson (Willow Grove, Pa./Upper Moreland) put up a career-best 9.800.

U-M took the lead after a solid floor rotation, scoring 48.900 with a 9.825 from Sexton and matching 9.800s from Beilstein and Botterman, but balance beam was unkind in the final rotation. Michigan's first performer incurred a fall and two performers later U-M suffered a second tumble. Sexton recorded a 9.925 in the five-spot and fifth-year senior Sarah Curtis (Reno, Nev./Reno) went 9.825, but the scores could not overcome counting the fall.

Michigan returns to Crisler Arena for the Michigan Quad featuring Maryland, Kent State and Illinois-Chicago on Saturday (Jan. 22) at 6 p.m. Join us for a Maize N' Bluau -- the first 500 fans receive Maize N' Blue leis. Come dressed in your best Hawaiian or beach outfit and win prizes for the best costumes/outfits.

Team Standings	Vault	Bars	Beam	Floor	Total
1. Iowa	48.725	49.025	48.625	49.000	195.375
2. MICHIGAN	49.250	48.300	48.450	48.900	194.900

Event-by-Event U-M Individual Scores

VaultKari Pearce          9.575Joanna Sampson       9.800 (t4)Sarah Curtis         9.775Katie Zurales        9.850 (3)Natalie Beilstein    9.900 (2)Kylee Botterman        9.925 (1) Uneven BarsNatalie Beilstein    9.725Shelby Gies          9.675Sarah Curtis         8.550Jordan Sexton        9.850 (2)Kylee Botterman      9.825 (t3)Kari Pearce          9.225 Balance BeamKatie Zurales        9.125Shelby Gies          9.775 (5)Joanna Sampson       9.100Sarah Curtis         9.825 (t2)Jordan Sexton        9.925 (1)Kylee Botterman      9.800 (4) Floor ExerciseStephanie Colbert    9.725Jordan Sexton        9.825 (2)Sarah Curtis         9.750Natalie Beilstein    9.800 (t3)Kylee Botterman      9.800 (t3)Joanna Sampson       9.500 All-AroundKylee Botterman     39.350 (1)Sarah Curtis        37.900

N O T E S

• Iowa beat the Wolverines for the first time in 11 meetings and the first time since 2004.

• Fifth-year senior Jordan Sexton had a career-best 9.925 on beam and matched her season high on bars with a 9.850. Sexton captured her first individual title of the year winning beam.

• Senior Kylee Botterman won her third consecutive all-around title through three weeks of competition. Botterman has nine individual titles in three meets this season and has twice been named Big Ten Gymnast of the Week.

• Sophomore Katie Zurales scored a 9.850 in her first vault of the season.

Q U O T E S

Michigan Head Coach Bev Plocki
On the meet ... "Give credit to Iowa -- they hit 23 out of 24 routines tonight, while we counted a fall on bars and a fall on beam. They were in their home environment and they deserved to win. I'm disappointed that we didn't bounce back from last week. We had a great week of practice, but it didn't show on the floor tonight."

On the performance of senior Kylee Botterman ... "For Kylee, this wasn't even a great night and that's how well she did. If Kylee has an bit of an off night and goes 39.350 in the all-around, it tells you what kind of gymnast she is."

On the performance of fifth-year senior Jordan Sexton ... "Jordan's beam routine tonight was flawless -- the most beautiful routine I've seen her do. Scoring was tight on beam. Jordan had a really good all-around meet -- she had a great bars routine too. Katie Zurales also did a beautiful vault. She was in the lineup for the first time this season and really stepped up."

On preparations for next week ... "We just need to be more consistent. If that means more routines or that we have to hit more in practice, we'll figure it out."

Contact: Richard Retyi (734) 763-4423