The No. 18 Arizona women's gymnastics team suffered its first home loss of the year on Friday as the Gymcats (194.3) fell to No. 16 Oregon State (195.075).
"It's upsetting to the team that we performed poorly," said Gymcats head coach Bill Ryden. "It was probably the roughest meet of the year so far."
Arizona came out strong, taking an early lead over the Beavers after the first rotation on vault. Senior Monica Bisordi (9.875) tied OSU's Thérèse Videan for the individual title.
Despite strong performances by seniors Jamie Schell and Katie Johnson, who each added scores of 9.85, as well as personal bests by freshman Karin Wurm (9.8) and Rachelle Silberg (9.75), this rotation was the last time the Gymcats held control of the meet.
The Gymcats started the second rotation in the uneven parallel bars with two consecutive falls. A third fall joined them later, all of which resulted in a season low score of 47.575 in the event.
That overshadowed meet bests by sophomore Aubrey Taylor and Schell, who each scored 9.8. The Gymcats possessed the top and bottom three scores in the event.
"You look for those first routines to set you up. We're a performance sport and we performed sub-par," Ryden said.
The Wildcats attempted to mount a comeback, winning the third rotation 49-48.9 on the balance beam.
Bisordi, along with freshman Danielle Hicks and OSU's Chelsea Plourde, had a three-way tie for the individual title, with a score of 9.875. It was a career best for Hicks.
Heading into the last rotation the Wildcats trailed OSU 146.35-145.7. Despite strong performances by Bisordi (9.9), Johnson (9.875), Taylor (9.85, career best) and Wurm (9.825, career best), the Wildcats could not overcome two falls to start the rotation and finished with a team total of 48.6 in the floor exercise.
For the third consecutive week, Bisordi claimed the all-around individual title with a four-event total of 39.425, a season best. Schell came in second with a score of 37.9.
Although the Gymcats lost, their final tally of 194.3 will raise their average season score to 194.271, and boost their Regional Qualifying Score, which is 194.08.
"It's been hard. We're focusing on the rest of the season and learning from what we did," said senior Jamie Duce.
The Gymcats travel to Los Angeles to take on No. 10 UCLA and No. 7 Georgia in Pauley Pavilion next weekend.