Michigan
Nebraska
Wolverines Drop Close Contest at Nebraska
1/29/2016 12:00:00 AM | Women's Gymnastics
Jan. 29, 2016
» The Wolverines posted three scores of 9.90 or better on floor.
» Beam was first time U-M scored less than a 49.000 this season.
Site: Lincoln, Neb. (Bob Devaney Sports Center)
Score: #17 Nebraska 196.775, #3 Michigan 196.650
Records: U-M (5-1, 2-1 Big Ten), NEB (5-0, 3-0 Big Ten)
Next U-M Event: Monday, Feb. 8 -- vs. Maryland and Eastern Michigan (Crisler Center), 7 p.m.
LINCOLN, Neb. -- Coming off a spectacular floor performance, all the third-ranked University of Michigan women's gymnastics team needed to do was count five good scores on beam to stay undefeated, but two rough routines allowed No. 17 Nebraska to come from behind and claim a 196.775-196.550 victory over the Wolverines on Friday (Jan. 29) at Bob Devaney Sports Center.
The loss is the first of the season for Michigan, which scored less than 196.900 for the first time this season. A pair of miscues put U-M's beam score at a 48.650, its lowest event score of the year. Meanwhile, Nebraska was solid on floor, counting five scores of 9.825 or better. It was enough to overcome the Wolverines.
The rough day on beam overshadowed one of the most spectacular performances in the NCAA this season. Junior Nicole Artz closed out Michigan's rotation on floor with an eye-popping 9.975 to tie her career high. Only Nina McGee of Denver has scored higher this season with her perfect 10.
Artz was not the only one with a brilliant floor routine. One of the nation's top teams on floor exercise, Michigan showed why it ranks in the top three in the event. The team had pressure after a fall on the first routine, but freshman Emma McLean really got the team excited with her career-best 9.875 to follow a 9.85 by sophomore Brianna Brown.
Junior Talia Chiarelli stepped up next and did very well on her floor passes for a 9.90. Freshman Olivia Karas then came out with a huge double Arabian and matched her top career score with a 9.95. That set the stage for Artz to put on the grand finale. With precision and tight execution plus some pizazz, she impressed the judges to a tune of 9.975.
Michigan got off to another great start in the meet. For the second straight week, the Wolverines scored a 9.825 or better on all six bars routines. Led by a 9.875 from Brown and a season-high 9.85 by senior Austin Sheppard, the Wolverines took a 49.250-49.025 lead into the second rotation.
The Wolverines did not have any big errors on vault but were not as crisp as they would like. Three gymnasts, Sheppard, Chiarelli and Karas, tied for first on the event with a 9.850. Despite her lowest score of the year, Karas remained undefeated on the event. For the other two, they share their first vault titles of the season. Even with the lower scores, Michigan built on its lead, sliding up to 98.350-98.225 halfway through.
Karas won her third straight all-around title with a 39.500. Michigan had three tie for the win on vault and then claimed the top-three finishes on floor with Artz earning the victory.
WHAT?!?!?! Just when you think things couldn't get better on floor. Nicole goes and does this ... HUGE 9.975!!!!! https://t.co/hEar3f7rNm
-- Michigan Gymnastics (@umichwgym) January 30, 2016
Michigan will have an extended week before its next competition as they return home to face Maryland and Eastern Michigan on Monday, Feb. 8, at 7 p.m. in Crisler Center. [ Tickets ]
Players Mentioned
