Jan. 22, 2006

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. - (Saturday, January 21, 2006) It was the "Battle of the Birds" at Horton Field House in Bloomington, Illinois as the Redhawks gymnastics team traveled to face Midwest Independent Conference foe Illinois State. However it was the Redbirds that would fly high at the end of the night as they won 189.425-188.425. The loss snapped the Redhawks seven dual winning streak against the Redbirds as they avenged their loss to the Redhawks at the Kentucky "Excite Night" triangular meet last Saturday.

The Redhawks (1-2, 0-1 MIC) started the meet strong winning the team vault 47.150-46.600. The Redhawks had four of the top six finishers with Danyelle Aber (Gurnee, Ill./ Ultimate Gymnastics) leading the way with a second place score of 9.600. Freshman Starlyn Bell Schwartz (Pensacola, Fla./First City) followed her with a 9.575. Kelsey Stauffer (San Antonio, Tex./USA Aerial Athletics) and Allison Ezell (Kansas City, Kan./ Alpha Omega) finished fifth and sixth respectively.

The Redbirds (3-2, 1-0 MIC) would take the next three events as they eclipsed their wins from the previous two seasons combined.

The Redhawks barely missed winning the uneven bars as they fell 47.775-47.525. Freshman Maureen Grimaldi (Kansas City, Mo./Eagles) led the Redhawks with a third place finish with a score of 9.650. Sandra Blake (Tri-Cities, Wash./Mid-Columbia) and Ezell finished fourth and fifth.

The Redbirds started pulling away as they won the beam despite the Redhawks scoring a season-high 46.200. After struggling on the beam last week against Kentucky they posted a solid score as Blake picked up her first collegiate title as she won with a score of 9.650. Grimaldi finished third with a score of 9.475.

However the damage was done and the Redhawks couldn't pull out the win despite scoring a season-high 47.550 on the floor. The Redbirds swept the top-three spots on the floor with Blake the top Redhawks with a score of 9.650 for a fourth place finish.

Blake claimed her first all-around title in only her second collegiate meet as she scored a season-high 38.050. Ezell finished third in the all-around with a score of 37.375.

The Redhawks look to bounce back as they host Winona State on Friday, January 27 in Houck Field House. Start time is set for 7:00 p.m.