MUNCIE, Indiana -- The Western Michigan gymnastics team took on undefeated Ball State on Sunday afternoon and handed the Cardinals their first loss of the season by a margin of 194.300-194.225.
Payton Murphy collected another all-around win for the Broncos, with a score of 39.300 placing her just ahead of Ball State's Marissa Nychyk (39.100). Murphy also won floor exercise while tying for the top mark on the beam and finishing second in vault and uneven bars.
Sarah Moravansky joined Murphy in second place on vault, while
Charlotte Tishkoff joined Murphy and a pair of Cardinals with the top score on beam. The 9.8 on bars matched a career-best score for Murphy.
The team scores were close throughout the afternoon. The first rotation saw Ball State post 48.750 on vault while the Broncos were just behind at 48.375. After the teams flipped, Ball State maintained a 97.425-97.000 lead. The Broncos used a team score of 48.650 to take the lead, as Ball State score 47.650 on balance beam. Entering the final rotation, WMU held a 145.650-145.075 lead.
Penny Jernigan's squad posted another team score of 48.65 on beam in the final rotation, enough to hold off Ball State's 49.150 on floor exercise, and take the meet by a final margin of 194.300-194.225.
| Leaderboard
Â
| VAULT |
| 1. |
Bri Slonim (BSU) |
9.800 |
| 2. |
Stefanie Schweikert (BSU) |
9.775 |
|
Sarah Moravansky (WMU) |
9.775 |
|
Payton Murphy (WMU) |
9.775 |
| BARS |
| 1. |
Grace Evans (BSU) |
9.850 |
| 2. |
Megan Teter (BSU) |
9.800 |
|
Payton Murphy (WMU) |
9.800* |
| BEAM |
| 1. |
Marisa Nychyk (BSU) |
9.825 |
|
Arden Hudson (BSU) |
9.825 |
|
Charlotte Tishkoff (WMU) |
9.825 |
|
Payton Murphy (WMU) |
9.825 |
| FLOOR |
| 1. |
Payton Murphy (WMU) |
9.900 |
| 2. |
Alivia Ostendorf (BSU) |
9.875 |
| 3. |
Megan Teter (BSU) |
9.850 |
| ALL AROUND |
| 1. |
Payton Murphy (WMU) |
39.300 |
| 2. |
Marissa Nychyk (BSU) |
39.100 |
| 3. |
Sarah Morvansky (BSU) |
38.775 |
*-Set or matched a collegiate high.
| Up Next
The Broncos have one regular season meet remaining, a quad meet at Central Michigan on Saturday, March 13. The Broncos and Chippewas will be joined by Ball State and Eastern Michigan.
That will be followed by the MAC Championships, hosted by WMU at University Arena on Saturday, March 20.
