WVU Gymnastics lost out to the University of Arizona in its second week of action against Arizona teams. WVU took on Arizona State University at home last week, losing by just 0.35.
The Mountaineers opened on the bars, with sophomore Kaelyn Skeel putting them on the board with a 9.675. Freshman Kayla Smith went off second with another 9.675.
Junior Amber Lowe had an amazing routine, scoring a 9.825 before classmate Jayden McDonnel put up another great score with a 9.775. Junior Jurnee Lane finished out for the Mountaineers with a 9.65, seeing WVU score a 48.6 overall on the event.
WVU trailed behind the Wildcats after the first rotation, after Arizona scored 48.950 on the vault.
Next up for the Mountaineers was the vault, which has been their strongest event throughout the season. Kayla Smith started things off strong for the Mountaineers with a 9.775 before senior Carlee Nelson scored a 9.8.
Sophomores Taylor Tuohy and Karleigh DiCello scored a 9.75 and a 9.775, respectively. Classmate Sophia Rice closed out for the Mountaineers with a 9.85 to see the Mountaineers match the Wildcats mark on the vault, scoring a 48.950.
WVU had all of its scores above a 9.7, including sophomore Emerson Smith’s dropped score of a 9.725.
The Wildcats answered back, trouncing WVU’s performance on the bars, scoring a 49.225, a .625 swing, seeing the Wildcats maintain their lead.
The Mountaineers took to the floor for the third rotation as Nelson went on first for the Mountaineers, scoring a solid 9.7 before Tuohy improved on it with a 9.75. Freshman Auden Pederson also scored a 9.7.
Emerson Smith had a stellar performance on the floor, scoring a 9.875 to clinch her season high on the event. Kayla Smith rounded out the third rotation for the Mountaineers, finishing off with a 9.725.
The third rotation scored an overall score of 48.75, bringing the overall score to 146.3. The Wildcats just kept up their pace, as they scored a 49.125 on the beam, extending their lead to a full point.
Going into the final rotation, the Mountaineers went to their weakest event as they took to the balance beam.
WVUstruggled in the event, only having two scores above a 9.7, with junior Kaylei Adams scoring a 9.7. Sophomore Eden Webster made her first appearance of the season, scoring a 9.75, the best on the event for the Mountaineers.
The Mountaineers scored a 48.35 on the beam, bringing their final score to 194.625. The Wildcats put the final nail in the coffin, scoring a 49.325 on the floor, seeing the Arizona take down WVU, 196.625-194.650.
WVU returns to Hope Coliseum at 7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 27, to face off against Brigham Young University for its final home meet of the season and the team’s senior night. The meet will be streamed on ESPN+.