University Park, Pa., March 13, 2004--The Penn State Women¡¯s Gymnastics team closed its regular season home slate tonight with a tough loss to Oklahoma. The Lions (6-5-2) posted a team score of 195.775 while the Sooners (11-9) notched a 196.175. Sophomore Meredith Hoover (Dublin, Ohio) took third place in the all-around, scoring a 39.250.

As a team, the Lions posted scores of 49.150 on vault, the second highest score of the season, 48.925 on bars, also the second highest of the season, 48.525 on beam and 49.175 on floor. The Sooners scored 48.975 on vault, and 48.575 on bars, 49.250 on beam and 49.375 on floor exercise.

The Lions opened the evening on vault, where freshmen Ashley Mehrer (Richmond, Va.) and Gena Shingle (Langhorne, Pa.) posted scores of 9.675 and 9.775, respectively. Hoover followed with a 9.825 before Junior Kate Stopper (Reinholds, Pa.) notched a 9.800. Sophomore Jen Orlando (Herndon, Va.) scored a 9.825 and junior Lisa Clark (Philadelphia, Pa.) followed, earning a career-high score of 9.925, which was good for first place on the event.

On bars, freshman Corissa Pirkl (West Islip, N.Y.) opened for Penn State with a 9.625. Hoover and Orlando followed, posting scores of 9.775 and 9.150 respectively. Sophomore Michelle Ilg (Colonia, N.J.) and Junior Cecile Allen (State College, Pa.) both scored 9.850 before senior Kelly Streicher (Colorado Springs, Colo.) notched a 9.825 to round out the rotation.

Penn State then rotated to beam, where Shingle opened with a 9.850. Mehrer and Clark both suffered falls and scored 9.175 and 9.400, respectively. Pirkl scored a 9.650 before Stopper and Hoover closed the rotation for the Lions, scoring 9.850 and 9.775 respectively.

The fourth rotation saw Penn State on floor. Mehrer started off the rotation with a 9.725 before Pirkl followed with a 9.850. Hoover notched a 9.875 before Stopper earned 9.925, which tied her for first place on the event. Clark scored 9.725 before Ilg stepped in for injured Jen Orlando and notched a 9.800 to close the competition for the Lions.

The Ann Carr Award, given to the most inspiring performance of the evening was presented by five former Nittany Lion Gymnasts and was awarded to Kelly Streicher. In addition, Streicher and senior Student Assistant Coach Dina Sulyma were honored in a senior night presentation.

The Lions will travel to Minnesota next Saturday, March 20th for Big Ten Championships at 7:00 p.m.

For more information on the Penn State women¡¯s gymnastics team, please visit www.GoPSUsports.com.