Jan. 19, 2007

NORMAL, Ill. - Southeast edged out Midwest Independent Conference foe and host Illinois State 191.700-191.100 to pick up a big win in a quadrangular meet at Normal, Illinois. Wrapping up the last two spots of the meet were University of Illinois-Chicago (189.550) and Centenary College (186.250).

The No. 22 ranked Redhawks (5-0, 5-0 MIC) used steady performances to place in the top five of each individual event as they pulled off an important win. As a team, Southeast took first on the bar and floor event.

Rikara Turner (Hastings, Minn./Twin City Twisters) led the Redhawks on the vault with a 9.600, which was good enough for third overall. Sandra Blake (Tri-Cities, Wash./Mid Columbia) took fourth with 9.550 and Amber Garlotte (Lee's Summit, Mo./Eagle Gymnastics) placed sixth with a 9.500. The vault was the only event that Southeast placed less than second.

Southeast finished first on the bars with a score of 48.350 as they were led by Maureen Grimaldi (Kansas City, Mo./Eagle Gymnastics) and Garlotte who tied for fourth with 9.700. Blake held fifth with a 9.675 while Jacqueline Heath (St. Cloud, Minn.) tied for sixth with 9.650.

The Redhawks are ranked nationally on the beam, but could only take second after scoring 47.650. Turner again led the Redhawks as she took third with a season-high 9.700. Southeast's two nationally ranked performers on the beam, Jena Nguyen (Sioux Falls, S.D./All American) and Blake, placed eighth and 11th respectively.

Junior Alison Ezell (Kansas City, Kan./Alpha Omega) led Southeast on the floor exercise with a fifth place 9.675. Four Redhawks; Bryanna Wong (Parkville, Mo./Edge Gymnastics), Turner, Blake and Nguyen, all scored 9.650 which tied them in sixth place.

Turner won her second straight all-around title with a season high 38.575. Blake placed second (38.300) and Grimaldi came in fourth (37.950).

The Redhawks return home to host the Junior Olympic Big Bird Invitational at Houck Field House on Saturday, January 27th at 1:00 p.m. Southeast will be facing the Kent State Golden Flashes (2-0, 2-0 MAC). Tickets are still available through the Redhawks ticket office in Houck Field House or by calling (573) SEMO-TIK.