Feb. 16, 2006

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. (Thursday, February 16, 2006) The Redhawks gymnastics team hosts Midwest Independent Conference foe Illinois State University on Friday evening at 7:00 p.m. in Houck Field House. The theme for the dual meet is "Elementary School Night", all elementary school students will be allowed in free of charge.

The Redhawks (3-3, 1-2 MIC) look to extend their four-dual home winning-streak that dates back to last season. Last year the Redhawks went 3-1 at home and are 10-1 since Tom Farden took over as head coach.

The Redhawks are coming off a disheartening 194.200-191.725 loss to 30th-ranked Illinois-Chicago on Saturday evening.

The Redhawks won only one of the four events as their bid to upset their second-straight ranked opponent came up short.

Freshmen Sandra Blake saw her consecutive all-around title streak snapped at three when she finished second with a score of 38.800. Blake and Ezell each tied for the Redhawks lone individual title as they each finished with a score of 9.775 on the floor.

The Redbirds (3-4, 1-0 MIC) had the week off last week and head into the meet fresh after suffering a 194.175-187.875 dual loss to 23rd-ranked Illinois the previous weekend. The Redbirds currently have score average of 186.010.

All-arounder Cheryl Berezan leads the Redbirds. In her earlier dual against the Redhawks she finished second in the all-around behind Blake with a score of 37.975. She also added second place finishes on the beam and floor. Freshman Meaghan Koshman won the vault with a score of 9.725.

The Redbirds would end up winning three of the four events as they picked up their first MIC win of the season.

This will be the third time the teams have met this season. Both teams have won this season with the Redhawks defeating them in a triangular meet with Kentucky to start the season. The Redbirds bounced back with a home dual win on January 21. The win by the Redbirds snapped a seven-dual winning streak against the Redbirds. The Redhawks lead the all-time series against the Redbirds 35-18.