Falcons Close Out Home Slate with Two Meets
2/29/2012 12:00:00 AM | Women's Gymnastics
Feb. 29, 2012
The Air Force women's gymnastics team hosts its final two home meets of the season this weekend at the Academy's Cadet West Gym. The Falcons will host conference opponent Seattle Pacific on Friday, March 2, before welcoming 19th-ranked Denver and Western Michigan on Monday, March 5. Both matches are slated to begin at 6 p.m.
Meet Notes 08: vs. Seattle Pacific; vs. No. 19 Denver, Western Michigan 
MEET INFORMATION
Friday's meet will run in conjunction with the men's dual against Illinois-Chicago. If you can't make it to the Academy this weekend, both matches will be video streamed on GoAirForceFalcons.com. (Note: Due to the double-dual meet with the men's and women's teams, the "watch" icon for Friday's meet can be found under men's gymnastics)
SENIOR SALUTE
In their final home weekend of the regular season, the men's and women's programs will honor their five seniors - Jacob Houder, Sammi Jones, Devin Menefee, Travis Myers and Jared Tomaszewski - during Friday's dual competition.
SCOUTING THE COMPETITION
Seattle Pacific is currently ranked 59th in the GymInfo national rankings with a regional qualifying score of 190.940. The Falcons, who are coming off of a 192.900-191.350 loss to UC Davis, currently lead the league on the floor exercise with a RQS of 48.2056. Denver, which is ranked 19th in the nation with a regional qualifying score of 195.270, claimed a 195.270-193.750 victory over Sacramento State during its inaugural WAC competition on Feb. 25. MAC-leader Western Michigan is ranked 32nd (RQS 193.995) in the national standings. The Broncos defeated Ball State 194.225-191.600 to improve to 7-1 on the year.
LAST TIME WE MET
Air Force has faced two of this weekend's opponents already this season. In the first matchup of the "Dueling Falcons", Air Force dropped a 192.575-188.925 decision to Seattle Pacific at SPU. During the Falcons' meet at Denver, Air Force tallied a then-season high 190.925 to finish second in a tri-meet with DU (195.400) and Centenary (187.250).
AROUND THE CONFERENCE
Jessica Hanner is currently ranked second in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation, holding a regional qualifying score of 9.665. In addition, Katie Hawthorne is ranked second in the all-around with a qualifying mark of 37.280, while Linnaea Hance is ranked fourth on the uneven bars (RQS 9.510).
HANCE WINS UNEVEN BARS AT RUTGERS
Linnaea Hance scored a career-best 9.850 to win the uneven bars at the Rutgers, while posting the Falcons' best score on the floor exercise (9.750). Hance improved the team's top score on the uneven bars by a 0.125 margin.
DID YOU KNOW?
The Falcons' score of 190.950 at Rutgers was the program's best road score of the season.
RECAPPING THE RUTGERS QUAD
Backed by Linnaea Hance's victory on the uneven bars, the Falcons scored a 190.950 to finish fourth behind Bridgeport (193.875), Eastern Michigan (193.725) and Rutgers (192.400). Jessica Wallander was the runner-up on the vault with a 9.800, while Katie Hawthorne finished within the top six on the uneven bars (9.725, fifth).
WHAT'S AHEAD FOR THE FALCONS
Air Force travels to Ypsilanti, Mich., next weekend to compete in the Eagle Invitational on Saturday, March 10. The Falcons will face Eastern Michigan, Northern Illinois and Temple at the Convocation Center.
Players Mentioned
