CORTLAND, N.Y. – The Cortland women's gymnastics team won only one event, uneven bars, but made it count as the Red Dragons narrowly defeated visiting Ithaca, 188.85-188.55, in their dual-meet home opener.
 
Cortland held more than a 1.5-point advantage on bars, 46.825-45.30, and stayed close enough to the Bombers in the other three events to earn the victory. Ithaca won vault, 47.15-46.75, balance beam, 47.875-47.225, and floor exercise, 48.225-48.05.
 
Autumn Adkins (Aledo, TX) won uneven bars with a career-high 9.675 and also posted a career best on floor with her sixth-place score of 9.60. Rianna Adams (South Setauket/Ward Melville) finished second on bars with a 9.65, tying her season high, and Alexa Rose Pahila (Greenville, SC/St. Joseph's Catholic) placed third on bars with a career-high 9.55.
 
Delaney Brown (Peru) tied for second on floor with a 9.725 and tied for fifth on vault with a 9.375. Samantha Meadows (Cypress, TX/Texas Connections Academy), in her first collegiate competition, finished third on beam with a 9.70. Gianna Mirigliano (Springfield, PA) placed fourth on vault (9.425) and Rylee Fishkin (Manlius/Fayetteville-Manlius) tied for fourth on floor (career-high 9.70).
 
Taylor Goldstein (Dix Hills/Half Hollow Hills West) recorded a career-best 9.65 on beam for a fifth-place finish and Kiana Wong (Elk Grove, CA/Pleasant Grove) placed sixth in the event with a career-high 9.575. Ninabella English (Winter Park, FL) tied for fifth on vault with a 9.275 and Kathryn McSweeney (East Brunswick, NJ) finished sixth on bars with a 9.05.
 
Ithaca's Grace Murray won both vault (9.575) and floor (9.825) and the Bombers' Emily Kobusky was the beam winner (9.85). There were no all-around competitors.
 
Cortland will travel to Springfield College for a dual meet Sunday at 1 p.m.

Coach's Corner - Comments from Cortland Head Coach Sulekha Modi Zaug:

It was exciting to have such a great crowd at our first home meet of the season!  Scoring was a little tight today and the gymnasts on both teams were pretty worn out from the big Empire State Challenge on Sunday.  It is not easy competing 3 times in one week with the incredible difficulty these girls have in their routines, and the mental and  physical toll is extremely tough.  We had some great performances, and some new faces in lineup spots as we get closer to figuring out the strongest 6 on each event for Regionals so we can qualify to Nationals.  Right now our goal is to keep increasing the team score so our Season Average Score moves us higher in the rankings.  We have three more meets before we move into post season so every meet is critical.  I'd like to see us top 2 in the East by this weekend!  
 
Cortland 188.85, Ithaca 188.55
 
(Top 4)
Vault:  1) Grace Murray (ITH) 9.575, 2) Natalie Steed (ITH) 9.475, Caitlin Pellegrino (ITH) 9.45, 4) Gianna Mirigliano (CORT) 9.425
 
Uneven Bars: 1) Autumn Adkins (CORT) 9.675, 2) Rianna Adams (CORT) 9.65, 3) Alexa Rose Pahila (CORT) 9.55, 4) Marlena Bailey (ITH) 9.525
 
Balance Beam: 1) Emily Kobusky (ITH) 9.85, 2) Jillian Freyman (ITH) 9.80, 3) Samantha Meadows (CORT) 9.70, 4) Abby Chesshire (ITH) 9.675
 
Floor Exercise: 1) Grace Murray (ITH) 9.825, T2) Delaney Brown (CORT) 9.725, T2) Corey Foster (ITH) 9.725, T4) Rylee Fishkin (CORT) 9.70, T4) Jillian Freyman (ITH) 9.70
 
All-Around: no all-around competitors