SHREVEPORT, La. - Trailing by a point heading into the final rotation of the night, the Ladies knew they needed a great team score on floor to have a chance to pick up their first victory of the season. The Maroon and White did just that, scoring a season-best 48.325 on floor as Centenary edged Southeast Missouri State 191.175-191.050 on senior night Friday, February 23.
Down to the final competitor, the Ladies need at least a 9.700 on floor from junior Navia Jordan to claim their first win of the season. Jordan answered, tying a season best with a 9.800.
Centenary used score building on the final rotation while the Redhawks counted a trio of falls on beam. Junior Tavia Smith started the rotation off with a 9.550 before freshman Jerrica Harris received a 9.450. The scores went up from there for the Ladies as freshman Sierra Ponder received a career best 9.600. Senior Ashley White received a 9.675 in her final collegiate routine in the Gold Dome, while sophomore Cami Bea Austin matched a season best with a 9.700 to finish third. Through five competitors, Centenary cut the deficit to just 0.225 before Jordan put the Ladies on top.
Smith matched career highs on both bars (9.675) and beam (9.650) before matching a season high on vault (9.525) to finish with a 38.400 in the all-around - two-tenths better than her previous career-high total set earlier this season.
While Centenary trailed SEMO on both vault and bars, the Ladies received season best team scores on both events to keep pace with the visitors. Sophomore Evelyn Harris and Smith both received a 9.675 to finish tied for third on bars, helping Centenary receive a 47.400 on the event. White led the Ladies on vault with a 9.625 as the team posted a 47.800.
Centenary edged SEMO on beam, 47.650-47.200. Austin received a season high 9.750 on the apparatus to finish second.
Alexis Brawner paced the Redhawks with wins on vault (9.775) and bars (9.800).
Centenary returns to action Sunday in a quad meet at Texas Woman's Sunday, February 25. Besides the host Pioneers, the Ladies will take on Southeast Missouri State and Bridgeport. First rotation is scheduled for 2 p.m.
