Recap: Oklahoma Wins Quad Meet Against Denver, Nebraska, And Texas Woman's

Recap: Oklahoma Wins Quad Meet Against Denver, Nebraska, And Texas Woman's

Oklahoma freshman Maggie Nichols led the top-ranked Sooners to a trio of wins over Denver, Nebraska, and Texas Woman's at the Lloyd Noble Center in Norman, Oklahoma, on Friday.

Feb 7, 2017 by Ashlynn Gibson Gibson
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From sweeping individual titles to scoring 10.0s, Maggie Nichols has become well-acquainted with flawless performances in her first NCAA season. On Friday, she found perfection once again.

The Oklahoma freshman tallied the highest marks on all four events for the third straight meet and notched her second perfect score of 2017 -- this time on beam -- to lead the top-ranked Sooners to a trio of wins over No. 8 Denver, No. 20 Nebraska, and Texas Woman's at the Lloyd Noble Center in Norman, Oklahoma. Nichols also earned a 10.0 on vault earlier this season at West Virginia.

The quad meet was Oklahoma's first against multiple opponents this season, and paced by Nichols' dominant performance, the Sooners cruised to the meet's top score of 197.675 in front of 3,035 fans. Denver finished second with a 194.500 and was trailed by Nebraska (194.450) and TWU (193.000).

The Sooners kicked off the meet on vault with both Chayse Capps and Brenna Dowell scoring a 9.85. AJ Jackson followed with a huge score of 9.9, and Nichols closed out the rotation with a stunning 9.925 to cap Oklahoma's final tally of 49.275. While the Sooners attacked vault, Denver was on bars, Nebraska was on beam, and Texas Woman's competed on the floor. On bars, Maddie Karr pulled out an excellent routine, scoring a 9.825, and her teammate, Julia Ross, followed with a 9.85 to lead Denver to a bar score of 48.4. While Nebraska had some challenges with the beam, anchor Danielle Breen maintained her poise and gave the Cornhuskers a 9.875 and a 48.075 total for the event. Texas Woman's Bria Northrop had a crowd-pleasing and entertaining routine to give the Pioneers a 9.85. Texas Woman's closed the rotation with a team floor score of 48.325.  

In the second event, the Sooners soared on bars behind McKenzie Wofford's season high of 9.925. Nicole Lehrmann matched Wofford's score. Nichols anchored the Sooners with an incredible bar routine to earn a 9.95. Denver had a solid performance on the beam. Ross and Karr had the two highest of their team in the last two spots of lineup, earning a 9.85 and 9.875, respectively. Meanwhile, Nebraska continued to fight through some errors on floor. Grace Williams and Megan Schweihofer both had solid performances and scored a 9.8 and 9.825, respectively. On vault, Texas Woman's notched a season-high score. Katie Simpson had a powerful vault, earning her a 9.8. The Pioneers' anchor, Schyler Jones, stuck her vault for a 9.825.

In the third rotation, Oklahoma showed some stunning and flawless beam work. Natalie Brown had a captivating routine and earned a 9.9. Nichols had an absolutely flawless and breathtaking routine to score her first perfect 10 on the balance beam. She became one of two Sooners who has earned a 10 on more than one event. Capps closed out the beam with a 9.95 toward the Sooners' 49.55 total. On floor, Denver only have five gymnasts go up so all five scores counted. Karr had an amazing routine and scored a 9.875. Anchor Nikole Addison added a 9.825, and Denver finished the rotation with a 49.0. Following its shaky start to the meet, Nebraska looked to turn the corner on vault. Jennie Laeng and Taylor Houchin closed out the Huskers' lineup and both earned a solid 9.9. Nebraska matched the Sooners' vault score with a 49.275. Texas Woman's kept its momentum going as it went to bars. Jenna Cashmore had an excellent routine to give her team a 9.775.

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In the last rotation of the quad meet, the Sooners ended on floor. Dowell had an excellent performance with stuck landings that gave her a season high of 9.925. Nichols closed out the meet with near perfection again on a stunning and captivating routine, earning a 9.975. The Sooners had a floor score of 49.3 and a team score of 197.675. Denver ended its night with a team score of 194.5 on vault, led by Karr's 9.825 and Ross' 9.875. On bars, Breen set the pace for a strong finish for Nebraska with a 9.825. Sienna Crouse had a stunning routine and followed with a 9.9. The Huskers closed the meet with a team score of 194.45. Meanwhile, Texas Woman's had a shaky ending on the beam and had to count two falls. Northrop anchored her team with a 9.85, and Texas Woman's finished with a team score of 193.0.

Nichols came out on top on all four events and had an incredible all-around score of a 39.85. Karr was second in the all-around scoring a 39.4.

Catch the Sooners in action next Friday, February 10, against Auburn at the Cox Convention center in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.