Tribe Shows Big Improvement at West Virginia

Seniors, Freshman Melissa Cream Spur Bounce-Back Effort

01/27/08 5:00PM

Morgantown, W.Va. - The William and Mary women’s gymnastics team bounced back from a tough start to the season last weekend to post a total score of 187.425, finishing fourth at a competitive quad-meet at West Virginia on Sunday afternoon.

Seventh-ranked Oklahoma recorded the top team mark, easily outdistancing the host Mountaineers (192.700) and third-place George Washington (192.050).

The Tribe tacked on nearly five points to its season-opening total last weekend at the George Washington Invitational, showing marked improvements on both beam and floor. The team’s best effort Sunday afternoon came on floor, where the team recorded a cumulative total of 47.600 in the event, over a three-point improvement from the season-opener.

Highlighting the squad’s individual performances were standout efforts by seniors Tricia Long (Humble, Texas) and Stevie Waldman (Downington, Pa.), as well as freshman Melissa Cream (West Windsor, N.J.). Waldman recorded the team’s top individual finish in the meet, taking ninth place on bars with a solid 9.725. Long placed inside the top 17 in three events, and Cream posted top-20 scores in three events.

In just her second collegiate competition, Cream hit her bars routine for the second-straight week and placed 16th with a tally of 9.575. Cream also recorded an 18th-place showing on beam (9.250) and helped the floor resurgence with a solid 9.475 to share 20th place.

Long was also part of the strong effort on floor, recording the team’s top finish in the event with a 9.675, which ranked 17th. Long added a 14th-place finish on vault (9.425) and was 14th on beam with a 9.450. Long rounded out her all-around total of 37.500 and placed sixth.

Sophomore Becca Bacharach (Lancaster, Pa.) was solid on floor as well, recording a 9.500 to place 19th. Waldman also responded on floor, matching Cream in the event and freshman Dina McNaughton (Stoneham, Mass.) with a 9.475, as the trio rounded out the team total.

Sophomore Stephanie Bevan (Bridgewater, N.J.) enjoyed a solid season debut with a 9.350 and 15th-place finish on beam, and junior Sarah Jacobson (Brecksville, Ohio) was 17th on bars with a 9.525. Sophomore Jen Stack (Enfield, Conn.) added a career-high 9.475 on bars to finish 18th in the event, and junior Megan Vincent (Newport News, Va.) was 15th on vault with a 9.275.

The Tribe returns to action next week at the Liberty Classic, hosted by Temple on Saturday afternoon in Philadelphia.


Complete Meet Results (.pdf)

Final Scores: #7 Oklahoma 196.550, West Virginia 192.700, George Washington 192.050, William and Mary 187.425

W&M Event Scores:
Vault: 46.225
Bars: 47.300
Beam: 46.300
Floor: 47.600

Top W&M Individuals:
Vault: Tricia Long 9.425
Bars: Stevie Waldman 9.725
Beam: Tricia Long 9.450
Floor: Tricia Long 9.675
All-Around: Tricia Long 37.550