Feb. 25, 2007

CAPE GIRARDEAU, MO. - The Redhawks were in true form this evening as they handed the defending Midwest Independent Conference champion Texas Woman's University a 193.475-192.5 loss and won three of the four events as a team. With the win, Southeast improves to (11-3, 6-0 MIC) and improve their chances of repeating their trip to the NCAA regionals.

"They dug deep," said head coach Tom Farden. "They really bounced back from the tough meet last weekend."

The Redhawks started the meet with a solid performance on vault scoring 48.075, which is .075 under their season-high. Freshman Rikara Turner (Hastings, Minn./ Twin City Twisters) shared the individual title with Nicole Poling and Brittany Parker from Texas Woman's scoring a season-high 9.75. They were followed by freshman Amber Garlotte (Lee's Summit, Mo./ Eagle Gymnastics) who pulled off a season-high 9.7.

"We just had a lot of fun," said Turner. "There was a good team energy and spirit."

On bars, the squad tallied a 48.4 and were again led by Turner who placed second with a season-high 9.75. She was followed by teammate Jacqueline Heath (St. Cloud Minn./ St. Cloud Tech) who scored a third place 9.7.

After a slow start on the beam, the Redhawks were able to record a respectable 48.1 and won the event. Top finishers for Southeast were Garlotte (9.75) and Allison Ezell (Kansas City, Kan./ Alpha Omega) (9.725) who each set season-highs and finished second and third respectively.

Southeast saved the best for last as they totaled a season-high 48.9 on the floor exercise.

"This was our best looking floor routine in two years," Farden said. "We showed a lot of character."

Four Redhawks tied for the top two spots on the floor. Freshmen Bryanna Wong (Parkville, Mo./Edge Gymnastics) and Jena Nguyen (Sioux Falls, S.D./ All American) shared the individual title and set a season-high with a 9.825. They were followed by Turner and Maureen Grimaldi (Kansas City, Mo./ Eagle Gymnastics) who also set a season-high 9.8.

Southeast was also able to pull the top four spots on the all-around as Turner earned her third title of the season with a season-high 38.725. She was followed by Garlotte who, in only her second all-around completion of the season, tallied an outstanding season-high 38.7. Grimaldi (38.525) and Wong (38.275) wrapped up third and fourth as Wong set a new season-high.

"We had fun and the energy was so high," Garlotte said. "We did a great job and it helped our chances of making the regionals."

The Redhawk's next meet will be in Denton, TX as Texas Woman's University will look to settle the score on Saturday, March 10 at 6:00 p.m.