SACRAMENTO, Calif. - Seniors Kaelei Spooor and
Shakea Sanders delivered fine three-event performances Sunday to lead the
Alaska Anchorage gymnastics team to a season-high point total in a
193.000-190.325 dual-meet loss to Sacramento State at The Hornet's Nest.
The Seawolves also got solid all-arounds from senior Kathleen Mantell and
freshmen Morgan Cook and Sariaye Jensen as they topped the 190-point barrier of
the first time this year.
Sacramento State's Kalliah McCartney earned an impressive 38.825 all-around to
lead the Hornets to the win.
"Even though it came in a loss, our group did an outstanding job today," said
UAA head coach Paul Stoklos. "Had it not been for a fall or two, we could have
easily been looking at a 191 score. I'm also proud of our seniors, who stepped
up big after some rough meets earlier in the season."
Sanders tied with Sac State's Nicole Meiller for top honors on vault with a
9.75, while adding a 9.55 on floor. Spoor, the team's other fourth-year senior,
delivered a 9.625 on beam, a 9.525 on floor and a 9.5 on vault.
Mantell scored a 9.7 on beam to account for a career- and UAA season-best on
that apparatus. Sophomore Emily Petersen had a 9.575 on beam as well, helping
the Seawolves score nearly a point higher than their previous-best 2012 beam score
with 47.600 points.
Petersen also produced UAA's best bars score of the day at 9.65, followed
closely by Jensen's 9.6, and senior Jackie Thomas scored a season-best 9.375.
UAA, which was competing without top all-arounder Melissa Doucette due to a
shoulder injury, got nearly identical scores from its three all-arounders - 37.125
by Jensen and 37.100's by Mantell and Cook.
UAA returns home for its final duals of the regular season, hosting Big Ten
Conference foe Michigan State on Mar. 9 (7 pm) and Mar. 11 (2 pm) at the Wells
Fargo Sports Complex.