Arkansas falls short against No. 2 Georgia
Harold McIlvain II
Issue date: 2/23/09 Section: Sports
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But after posting its two lowest scores of the season heading into the event, Arkansas co-head coach Rene Cook said the team didn't have too much to complain about.
"I'm the coach, so I always want more," Cook said. "We had a few minor wobbles on beam and some things we can work on. But we are overall pleased with the end result."
After two Arkansas gymnasts didn't fare well in warm-ups, Cook said they bounced back and led the team.
Freshman Jaime Pisani won her second all-around title with a 39.350 score, tying a career-best. But she didn't get a great start before the meet, Cook said.
"She wasn't super great in the touches and warm ups," Cook said. "She is learning how to get past that and focus and really hit her routine."
Junior Sarah Nagashima neared a career-best performance while taking second place in the all-around with a 39.175.
"If [Sarah] doesn't have a good warm-up, she usually doesn't have a good meet," Cook said. "She struggled though the warm-ups because she was so jacked up. I just kept telling her to stay calm and to keep breathing. And she listened and did a great job."
Arkansas started the meet by setting a new school record in the vault with a 49.450 after scoring a 48.800 on the event last week.
"We have been so frustrated with vault the last couple of weeks," Cook said. "We have been a little off. We came back in the gym this week and trained a little differently, and it boosted their confidence."
The team started the event with two scores of 9.800 or better, but the team then ended the event with four 9.900 performances to re-break the record the team broke in a win over then-No. 1 Florida this season.
Senior Alexandra LaChance started the 9.900 run with a career-best performance. Junior Casey Jo Magee followed that up with the same score, setting a career-high for the event. Junior Michelle Stout then matched that score and tied a season-high performance.
But it was a lead that Arkansas would not regain after Georgia bounced back in the second rotation.
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