March 10, 2007

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. - The Pitt women's gymnastics team finished third in a quad meet hosted by No. 11 Arkansas. The competition also featured No. 23 West Virginia and New Hampshire. Pitt finished with a 193.350 behind Arkansas (196.250) and West Virginia (194.300) and ahead of New Hampshire (192.650). This is the third consecutive week in which the Panthers have scored above a 193.000.

Leading the team in the all-around competition was senior Andrea Arlotta (Cincinnati, Ohio/Northwest). She placed second with a 39.150. Also competing in the all-around was freshman Dani Bryan (Germantown, Md./Northwest) who took fifth with a career-high 38.825. Winning the all-around competition was Arkansas' Casey Jo Magee with a 39.275.

On the vault, Pitt scored a 48.600 and was led by Arlotta who placed fifth with a 9.825. Bryan tied for 12th with a 9.750. Next was Kirsten Dahlberg (Gibsonia, Pa./Pine Richland) who took 17th with a career-high 9.700. Winning the vault competition was West Virginia's Jamie Gold with a 9.875.

Pitt scored a 48.050 on the uneven bars. The Panthers were led by Arlotta again who tied for first with a career-high 9.900. She tied with West Virginia's Janae Cox and Arkansas' Emily Peacock. Samantha DeBone (Greensburg, Pa./Hempfield) tied for 10th with a 9.775, and freshman Jessica Byich (Nicktown, Pa./Bishop Carroll) tied for 18th with a 9.675.

Next up for the Panthers was the balance beam where they hit a 48.475. Leading the way was Anya Chayka (Germantown, Md./Richard Montgomery) with a career-high 9.800 for fifth place. Arlotta took 13th with a 9.750, and Bryan finished in 14th with a 9.725. Winning the balance beam was Arkansas' Magee with a 9.875.

Finally, Pitt scored a 48.225 on the floor exercise. The team's top placewinner was Bryan who tied for eighth with a 9.750. Shannon McConnell (Allison Park, Pa./North Allegheny) and Jessica Garber (Manheim, Pa./Lancaster Country Day School) tied for 12th with a 9.700. Arkansas' Rachel Barnett won the floor exercise competition.

Next up for the Panthers will be a dual meet at NC State. This will be the first meeting this season for the two league opponents.