Jan. 17, 2008

Head Coach Kathie Klages Weekly Press Conference
MSU v. Pittsburgh Meet Notes

EAST LANSING, Mich. - Coming off the season opening win over Western Michigan, Michigan State gymnastics welcomes the University of Pittsburgh to Jenison Field House on Saturday night for the Second Annual Jan Howard Memorial Flip for a Cure Meet. The meet is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m.

The MSU gymnasts will wear pink leotards and all proceeds from this event will benefit the American Cancer Society. The meet is dedicated in memory of Jan Howard, the mother of Angela Howard, former Spartan gymnast and current Associate Director of Student-Athlete Support Services, who passed away from breast cancer in 1997.

Admission is free if you wear pink.

During the evening, there will be a silent auction featuring various Michigan State athletic items, including signed basketballs by men's basketball head coach Tom Izzo and women's basketball head coach Suzy Merchant.

The Spartans opened the 2008 schedule on Friday, Jan. 11 with a 192.025-190.325 win over Western Michigan. Sophomore Nicole Curler began the season on a high note, winning the all-around, bars, beam and floor in the dual meet against Western Michigan. She was the first Spartan since Kristen Coleman on Feb. 24, 2005 against Alaska Anchorage to win the all-around and three individual events in one meet. Classmate Rochelle Robinson provided a clean sweep for the Spartans, placing first on the vault.

Pittsburgh is coming off a home tri-meet loss to No. 13 Penn State and Kent State. The Panthers tallied a score of 190.450, while PSU took the meet with 194.050 and KSU was second with 192.175. Sophomore Dani Bryan, the reigning EAGL vault champion, finished in a three-way tie for the vault title last weekend with a score of 9.800. Freshman Molly Moyer, who was named EAGL Rookie of the Week this week, placed second on the floor in her collegiate debut, posting a score of 9.850. Aside from Bryan earning first team All-EAGL honors in 2007, senior Samantha DeBone was a first team selection on the beam and Bryan garnered second team recognition on the floor.

MSU holds a 14-3 advantage against the Panthers, including winning the last seven meetings dating back to 2001. The Spartans are 7-1 all-time at Jenison Field House against Pittsburgh and have won the last six at home, going back to 1983. Last season, the Spartans traveled to Pittsburgh for a quad meet. West Virginia (193.150) took the title followed by MSU (192.150), Pittsburgh (190.725) and Maryland (189.375).

Live statistics from Saturday's meet can be followed through the msuspartans.com.

MSU Women's Gymnastics

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