PROVIDENCE, R.I. – The Cortland women's gymnastics team traveled to face Division I opponent Brown University Sunday afternoon at the Pizzitola Sports Center, finishing with a 190.775 team score in a dual meet. Brown totaled 194.900.

Cortland recorded several top-eight individual finishes and turned in two of its strongest team event scores of the season against the Bears.

The Red Dragons opened the meet on uneven bars and delivered one of their best rotations of the year, posting a 47.750, the team's second-highest bars score this season. Aria Roberts (Charlotte, NC Everest Gymnastics) registered a season/career-high 9.600 to tie for seventh, while Autumn Adkins (Aledo, TX/Impact Athletics Training Center) matched that score to also finish seventh. Emily Baradic (Chandler, AZ/Gold Medal Gymnastics) scored right behind them with a 9.575.

Cortland moved to vault next and totaled a 47.450. Tayah Graham (Syracuse/Blaze Gymnastics) tied for second with a 9.700 to lead the way, while Gianna Mirigliano (Springfield, PA/Roth's CrossPoint Gymnastics) and Olivia Chapman (Buffalo/Stumpf's Gymnastics Center) each tied for fifth with matching 9.650 scores.

On floor exercise, the Red Dragons recorded a 48.675, their third-highest team score of the season. Adkins tied for second with a 9.775, while Shyann Bootman (East Greenbush/World Class Gymnastics Academy) placed fifth at 9.750. Mirigliano and Tessa Sutton (Fairport/Rochester Gymnastics Academy) each tied for sixth with 9.725 scores, and Kathryn McSweeney (East Brunswick, NJ/NJ Premier Gymnastics) tied her season high with a 9.700.

Cortland closed the meet on balance beam, finishing with a 46.900 team score. Samantha Meadows (Cypress, TX/Cypress Academy of Gymnastics) led the team with a tie for fourth place and a 9.750, while Lexi Weber (Closter, NJ/Galaxy Gymnastics) followed in seventh at 9.575.

Cortland returns to Providence next Saturday, March 7 at 1 p.m. to compete at the NCGA East Regional, hosted by Rhode Island College.

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

Routines were strong today but scores were tight. Bar routines were big, vaults strong, floor confident and artistic, and beam a bit tentative at times. We have two practices before regionals to iron out some things. I feel that not having the strongest meet right before regionals will help fuel that fire to perform and hit even more knowing what is at stake as far as qualifying to Nationals. This team has constantly performed at the high 190 level and the potential is much higher for the team score. I'm excited to see what can happen at regionals next weekend!


Brown 194.900, Cortland 190.775

(Top 4)

Vault: 1) Sophia Dewar (BROWN) 9.750, T2) Tayah Graham (CORT) 9.700, T2) Lulu Ton-That (BROWN) 9.700, 4) Emily Ford (BROWN) 9.675

Uneven Bars: 1) Liza Marcus (BROWN) 9.850, T2) Addy Whiteside (BROWN) 9.775, T2) Daisy Fallon (BROWN) 9.775, T2) Sophie Tressler (BROWN) 9.775

Balance Beam: T1) Gabby Mautner (BROWN) 9.850, T1) Liza Marcus (BROWN) 9.850, 3) Rehna Saalinger (BROWN) 9.825, T4) Samantha Meadows (CORT) 9.750, T4) Emily Ford (BROWN) 9.750
Floor Exercise: 1) Sophia Dewar (BROWN) 9.875, T2) Autumn Adkins (CORT) 9.775, T2) Daisy Fallon (BROWN) 9.775, T2) Addy Whiteside (BROWN) 9.775