Rutgers Gymnastics Drops Dual Meet to Towson
Mar 08 | Women's Gymnastics
PISCATAWAY, N.J. - The Rutgers gymnastics team closed out the season's home slate Saturday afternoon at the Livingston Recreation Center, falling to defending USAG Collegiate champion Towson, 192.950-188.025.
The team honored its four graduating seniors - Elizabeth Bohnsack (Scottsdale, Ariz.), Stephanie Pannick (Archbald, Pa.), Tiffany Schramm (Santa Ana, Calif.), and Jacquelyn Verdon (Freehold, N.J.) - in a post-meet ceremony, celebrating their last competition at home.
The loss dropped Rutgers' record to 11-7-1 on the season, as Towson improved to 12-6. RU was forced to compete without sophomore standout Laura Sevarino (Cheshire, Conn.) due to injury.
The Scarlet Knights saw strong performances from a number of different athletes on the day. On the vault, junior Latara Northcutt (Snellville, Ga.) led the Scarlet Knights with her score of 9.675 to take third, followed by freshman Nicole Rose (Maple Shade, N.J.) in fifth with a 9.600. Sophomore Alyssa Lewandowski (Linden, N.J.) scored a 9.550, taking sixth.
Pannick and Northcutt each received scores of 9.725 to lead RU on the parallel bars and tying for fourth place overall. Junior Kristy Behr (Northport, N.Y.) scored a 9.575, coming in eighth.
On the balance beam, Rutgers was led by freshman Leigh Heinbaugh (Sicklerville, N.J.) with a 9.650 to place fourth. Junior Alison Hartwig (Wayne, N.J.) recorded a 9.625 in sixth place.
Freshman Kiah Banfield (Newbury Park, Calif.) was RU's highest finisher in the floor exercises, scoring 9.725 and tying for first place with Towson's Jackie Schweizter. Bohnsack came in third with her score of 9.650, and Rose was seventh with a 9.400.
Stepping in for Sevarino in the all-around competition, Northcutt represented the Scarlet Knights with her third place overall finish, racking up 36.900 total points. The Tigers took the first two slots in the all-around.
In the all-time series, Towson now owns the 22-4 edge in 26 total meetings between the teams.
The Scarlet Knights will return to the floor next Saturday, March 15, at West Virginia, taking on the Mountaineers in a 7 p.m. dual meet.
