Air Force Defeats Alaska-Anchorage in Home Opener

Jan. 27, 2010

USAF ACADEMY, Colo. - Backed by strong performances on the final rotation, the Air Force women's gymnastics team earned a come-from-behind victory over Alaska-Anchorage in Mountain Pacific Sports Federation action on Wednesday, Jan. 27, at the Academy. Sweeping the top three spots of the floor exercise, the Falcons scored a narrow 185.350-184.800 victory over the visiting Seawolves.

Sophomore Jenna Dudley tied a season-best score of 9.725 to win the floor exercise and secure the victory for the Falcons. Dudley's score, which remains the highest score of the season by the Falcons, concluded an impressive rotation that saw Air Force gymnasts collect the three best scores of the night.

Junior Brittany Dutton scored a 9.650 to finish second, while classmate Lisa Wong and senior Michelle Denise tied for third with matching scores of 9.300.

Earlier in the meet, Dutton recorded the Falcons first event title of the season, as she won the vault with a score of 9.650, She also picked up a third-place score of 9.400 on the uneven bars to place second in the all-around with a season-best total of 37.700.

In addition to her victory on the floor exercise, Dudley finished fourth on the vault (9.525-tied) and balance beam (9.300), while claiming a third-place score of 37.500 in the all-around.

Air Force earned several other placements within the top half of the final standings, including a pair of additional top-six marks from Wong. The junior placed third on the beam with a season-best score of 9.425, while tying for fourth on the vault with a season-best matching score of 9.525.

Senior Aftan Boudreaux picked up a fifth-place score of 9.300 on the uneven bars, while Denise placed sixth on that apparatus with a score of 9.050.

The Falcons held a two-point advantage (47.350-45.325) after the first rotation, but Alaska-Anchorage took the lead by .075 after the second set of events and held a 93.075-93.000 margin at the conclusion of the first half. The Seawolves expanded their lead to 138.475-135.350 following the third rotation, but Air Force came roaring back with its stellar floor routines to take the team title 185.35-184.800.

It is the Falcons' second narrow victory over the Seawolves this year. At the season opening Salbasgeon Suites Invitational, Air Force defeated Alaska by a score of 184.475-183.475. The Falcons will face the Seawolves two more times this season in dual-meet action, as they travel to Alaska in mid-March.

Air Force remains at the Academy for another dual meet on Saturday (Jan. 30). The Falcons will host league-leader UC Davis at 6 p.m. in the Cadet West Gym.

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