Titans Edge Pipers

UW-Oshkosh's depth prevailed as it recorded a narrow 176.25-175.85 victory over the Hamline University (Minn.) women's gymnastics team on Saturday (Feb. 4) in Kolf Sports Center.

Hamline University owned the winner in each of the five individual categories, but UW-Oshkosh slipped past the Pipers by having five of the top seven finishers on the balance beam and five of the top eight finishers on both the vault and in the floor exercise.

UW-Oshkosh scored a season-high 44.85 points on the balance beam, including 9.45 by second-place finisher Leah Herchenbach (Fr. • Libertyville, Ill.). The Titans also had Jill Lindberg (Sr. • Meridian, Idaho) rank fourth with 9.175 points, Abby Zubella (Jr. • Appleton) fifth with 9.10 and Leane Blais (Fr. • Salisbury, N.C.) sixth with 8.625.

UW-Oshkosh totaled 44.725 points on the vault as Stephanie Gorman (So. • Belvidere, Ill.) placed second with 9.05, Herchenbach and Lindberg both fourth with 8.95 and Natasha Cattelino (Fr. • Pleasant Prairie) sixth with 8.90.

The Titans tallied 44.575 points in the floor exercise as Zubella finished second with 9.325, Lindberg third with 9.00, Amanda Bergesen (Sr. • Lake Geneva) fourth with 8.95 and Gorman and Herchenbach both fifth with 8.65.

UW-Oshkosh also had Blais finish second on the uneven bars with 9.05 points, Herchenbach fifth with 8.625 and Heather Kill (Fr. • Crystal Lake, Ill.) sixth with 8.425.

Hamline University's Courtney Benson earned four victories in the meet by compiling 37.375 points in the all-around competition, 9.55 on the balance beam, 9.20 on the uneven bars and 9.40 in the floor exercise. The Pipers' Jacklyn Clement won the vault with a score of 9.325.

UW-Oshkosh hosts four-time defending National Collegiate Gymnastics Association champion UW-La Crosse on Friday (Feb. 10) in Kolf Sports Center.