OU Women's Gymnastics Fall Short Of Second Straight Title

Oklahoma came up just short of the program's second national title, finishing in third place at the national championships on Saturday. 

Saturday, April 18th 2015, 11:13 pm

By: News 9


It wasn't the finish they were looking for, but the Oklahoma women's gymnastics program still had plenty to be proud of on Saturday night.

The Sooners notched a third place national finish at the 2015 NCAA Super Six on Friday night with a 197.525. OU came in just behind national champion Florida (197.850) and runner-up Utah (197.800).

The performance was the team finish to a season for the record books in which Oklahoma posted a 29-2 record overall, including an undefeated regular season of 14-0. The Sooners posted the No. 6 score in NCAA history, won a Big 12 title and captured their sixth consecutive NCAA regional crown.

Head coach K.J. Kindler was honored by her peers for her coaching efforts in OU's outstanding season as she won her third career National Coach of the Year honor.

Following a first rotation bye, Oklahoma opened its evening on floor exercise with a 49.175. Nervous jitters proved problematic in the middle of the rotation as two neutral deductions for stepping out of bounds dinged OU's scoring efforts. Haley Scaman was stellar in the No. 5 position, hitting solid landings on every pass to earn a team-best 9.925. Kara Lovan was strong as well for a 9.9, while Chayse Capps contributed a 9.8 in the lead-off position.

Natalie Brown hit a 9.8 in the anchor spot for Oklahoma and the Sooners also counted a 9.75 from Brenna Dowell in No. 3 position.

The Sooners bounced back well on vault in the second rotation, nailing a 49.475 to recoup momentum. Scaman was tops again for Oklahoma, sticking her Yurchenko full cold to earn a 9.95 in the anchor spot. Sophomore Charity Jones was stellar again as well, posting her second 9.9 in as many days to open the rotation. Dowell snagged a 9.9 off a huge vault to boost the lineup in the No. 3 position.

Ali Jackson captured a big 9.875 to aid Oklahoma, while Capps and Keeley Kmieciak each contributed 9.85 performances.

After a bye in the fourth rotation, the Sooners returned to the floor for uneven bars with a 49.300 that included team-high 9.875s from McKenzie Wofford and Keeley Kmieciak. Erica Brewer, Rebecca Clark and Dowell all tacked on 9.85 efforts in a lineup that was solid from top to bottom with a dropped score coming in the No. 5 position.

Oklahoma closed the night on a strong note, executing a beautiful 49.575 on beam. The highlight of the rotation came in Brewer's outstanding 9.95 effort that featured a stuck double back dismount in the final routine of her career. Senior Haley Sorensen also delivered an elegant performance in her final routine for a strong 9.925. The Sooners were extraordinary throughout the lineup as Capps, Clark and Lovan each earned 9.9s and Kmieciak led off with a 9.85.

In the end, OU's strong performances later in the meet just wouldn't be enough to catch up with the Gators or the Utes for the top of the podium. The Sooners notched in ahead of Alabama, Stanford and Auburn in the season finale.

Oklahoma will cap a spectacular season tomorrow afternoon at NCAA Event Finals. Seven Sooners will compete for a shot at individual national titles on all four apparatuses.

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