MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. - After posting its highest score since 2005 in a win over Ball State and Eastern Michigan, the Falcons now prepare for a tough challenge on the road, facing last year's Mid-American Conference champions, the Central Michigan Chippewas, in a dual meet Saturday at 2 p.m.
The Falcons clicked on every event last weekend, coming away with a 194.525 score in front of a roaring crowd in Anderson Arena. Megan Harrington led a BGSU sweep of the awards stand, winning the all-around and a share of first place on beam and floor. She and teammate Alyssa Nocella scored the first 9.9 marks of the season for the Falcons, who posted a stellar 49.3 on floor in the last rotation.
Bowling Green has moved up to sixth in the MAC rankings, while CMU is holding steady in second behind Kent State.
"Our focus will be on us, not on Central," said head coach Kerrie Beach. "As a team, we need to build on the great score from last weekend and find more opportunities to stick landings, hit handstands and show off our difficulty. We are chasing that 195 and this will be a great meet to achieve that score."
The Chippewas have been steady from the start, with a regional qualifying score (RQS) of 195.120 and a season high of 195.875 that they've reached twice. Bowling Green totaled an RQS of 193.305 and has twice breached the 194 barrier this season. The Falcons are 3-0 this year when scoring above 194.
Last year, the Falcons faced CMU on Jan. 14, falling 193.050-191.950 in Anderson Arena. Megan Valentini and Dawn Christman tied for the win on floor exercise, scoring 9.825. The Chippewas went on to earn a 6-0 MAC record and a conference championship to end the year.
The last time the Falcons beat CMU in a dual meet was in 2008, when BGSU managed a 193.350-192.775 victory in Anderson Arena.
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