Temple University Athletics
Owls Finish Fifth At Women's ECAC Championships
3.31.07 | Women's Gymnastics
March 31, 2007
ITHACA, NY - The Temple women's gymnastics team, under the direction of first-year head coach Aaron Murphy, placed fifth in Saturday's ECAC Championships hosted at Cornell. Sophomore Christine McNeill finished fourth on the uneven parallel bars while seniors Jillian Kornett, Sarah Liebowitz and Noelle Moore also produced medal-worthy performances.
"I'm really proud of the effort the team gave today," praised Murphy, after his first championships as the Owls' mentor. "Knowing that the judges were going to very critical today in such an important meet, it puts a great cap on the season in breaking 190 points."
Towson (193.650) finished first with Penn (191.325), Rhode Island (190.475) and Cornell (190.100) placing second, third and fourth, respectively. The Owls were followed by Yale (189.425), William & Mary (188.250), James Madison (186.150) and Brown (182.600).
Kornett's 9.725 and fifth place finish on the vault led the charges for the Owls. Temple's afternoon-best 47.725 team score on the apparatus was also aided by Moore (9.600), true freshman Tiffany Shepherd (9.575), junior Desiree Meredith (9.525) and sophomore Natasha Crawford (9.300).
In addition to McNeill's fourth place finish, Liebowitz produced a 9.575 and a sixth place ranking on the uneven parallel bars. Crawford added a 9.525 while sophomore Nikki Berrian posted a 9.450. The Cherry and White tallied a 47.525 team score.
Moore, who was named the ECAC Senior-Athlete of the Year during the championships, led the Temple team total of 47.575 on the balance beam with a sixth place score of 9.675. Crawford and true freshman Nina Oteri turned in solid 9.600 tallies while true freshman Evelyn Lespinasse added a 9.500.
Moore captured her second medal with a 9.700 and fifth place score in the floor exercise. Kornett added to the Temple cause with a 9.500 while Liebowitz and Shepherd contributed identical scores of 9.375.
"The senior really led the way for us as all three medaled in their respective events," added Murphy.
The Owls next return to action as one of eight qualifying teams on Thursday, April 19 in Seattle, Wash. for the USAG Nationals. The Cherry and White will have to advance as one of the top four teams to the second day before individual finals are held on Saturday.
