BOWLING GREEN, Ohio – The Ball State University gymnastics team finished in fifth place in today's Mid-American Conference Championships.
Ball State was led by senior Bibiana Rodriguez, sophomore Brittney Emmons and redshirt freshman Julie Cotter. Rodriguez finished in second place on the uneven bars with a 9.8. Rodriguez was the defending MAC champion in the event.
Cotter and Emmons each had a fifth-place finish today. Cotter's was on the bars (9.75) and Emmons' was in the all-around (38.85).
Emmons had two top-10 finishes in individual events: ninth on the vault (9.775) and 10th on the floor exercise (9.8).
Close finishes have been a theme for the Cardinals this season. Ball State scored a 193.1 finishing 0.1 behind fourth-place Northern Illinois University.
Central Michigan won the meet with a score of 195.6. It is the 11th conference championship for the Chippewas.
Central Michigan upended regular-season champions Kent State University, who had two falls on the balance beam and finished in second with a 195.025.
The Chippewas and the Golden Flashes almost swept the individual awards. Including ties, Central Michigan had seven individual titles and Kent State had three. Bowling Green State University and Western Michigan University each finished with one.
Ball State led the championships after the first rotation. The Cardinals put up a 48.25 on the floor in their first event.
In the preseason, Ball State was picked to finish last in the conference.
The Cardinals will now await the results of other conference championship meets this weekend before finding out if any individuals will qualify the NCAA Central Regionals on April 10.
For more on today's meet, check out Sunday's online edition of The Ball State Daily News.
Final Team Results
1 Central Michigan 195.6
2 Kent State 195.025
3 Eastern Michigan 193.625
4 Northern Illinois 193.2
5 Ball State 193.1
6 Western Michigan 192.875
7 Bowling Green 191.85
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