The Ball State University gymnastics team fell to No. 25 Southeastern Missouri State University on Thursday night 193.100-195.500, the Cardinals' highest score of the season thus far.
Top individual performances for the Cardinals included Katelyn Busacker, who placed second on the balance beam with a 9.775, and Domenique DeRosa, who posted a career-best on the uneven bars with a 9.750.
"The girls were doing their stuff well, but we competed on bars first and had two falls," coach Nadalie Walsh said. "We didn't vault our absolute best, but we had five out of the six vaults there."
Teresa Phipps scored a 9.750 on the floor routine, and junior Ashley Jacob hit every event she performed in, Walsh said.
"It's good to see [Phipps] on the bars and floor, and Ashley did really well," Walsh said. "I know that I have a team that's working well together."
After two falls on the uneven bars, the Cardinals had to count a fall on the balance beam portion of the meet. Sometimes decreasing the routine's level of difficulty or taking an element out of the routine would be better than risking point deduction for a fall, Walsh said.
"We were frustrated with our falls [Thursday], but I think as coaches we have to constantly remember that if one mistake happens, we can't have another," Walsh said. "I have to tell myself to do that [limit elements of difficulty]. We have to secure ourselves instead of having one more risk of a fall."
As the season has progressed, winning Mid-American Conference scores have held steady around the 192-194 range. The Cardinals' display of a 193.100 of their own shows that they're at the very least still in contention, Walsh said.
"I feel that we're starting to get girls to lock into their respective lineup spots, and that's great because it's consistency. It all really started with Domenique [DeRosa]," Walsh said. "She did the best routine she's ever done, and it's the first thing we saw. I think everyone goes back to that and it sets the tone for the competition."
DeRosa said Thursday was a confidence boost for the Cardinals because they did a lot better.
"We just have high expectations and we go into each meet with a clean state of mind and with confidence, leaving what happened in the previous meet behind," DeRosa said.
"It's all more of the little things coming together and transferring it into competition."
The Cardinals (1-6, 0-5 MAC) will compete again Sunday in their last regular season MAC meet when they play host to Western Michigan University at 2 p.m. in Worthen Arena.
"They want to go out there [Sunday] and fix what they didn't do right [Thursday]," Walsh said. "They want to hit 24 out of 24 routines, and I think you're going to see more confidence. They will go in to take the opportunity."
Read More
Three Air Jam teams take home the win
October 12, 2012Nineteen teams shimmied, shook and flipped for a sold out John R. Emens Auditorium on Thursday night during the 25th annual Air Jam.
Bill Clinton Speaks at North Central High School
October 12, 2012Former President's Speech Could Have Effect on State Senate Race
