Bridgeport Gymnastics Advances To Friday's 2012 USAG Team Finals

Bridgeport, Conn.-The host University of Bridgeport, Texas Woman's University, the University of Pennsylvania and the United States Air Force Academy have advanced to the team finals of the 2012 USA Gymnastics Women's Collegiate National Championship being held in Bridgeport, Connecticut.  Thursday's team semifinals were held in Hubbell Gymnasium on the campus of the University of Bridgeport.  The four team finalists will vie for the 2012 USAG Women's Collegiate Team Title at 7:00 p.m. Eastern Time on Friday night at the Webster Bank Arena in Bridgeport.  UB will be looking for its fourth straight team title.

Texas Women's and Air Force advanced from the Thursday's first team session.  TWU won the first session with a score of 193.625, and Air Force was second with a score of 192.300.  William & Mary was third (192.250), and Centenary (190.750) was fourth in Thursday's first session.

Bridgeport and Penn advanced to the team finals from Thursday's second session.  UB took first place with a score of 195.525, and Penn was second with a total of 193.900.  Temple was third in Thursday's second team session with a score of 191.775 followed by Seattle Pacific at 190.800.

From Thursday competition, the top five finishers (including ties) in each event in each session advanced to Saturday event finals which will be held back on Bridgeport's campus.

The 2012 USAG Women's Collegiate All-Around Champions was crowned on Thursday and first place went to University of Bridgeport junior Monica Mesalles Sallares (Barcelona, Spain) who won the all-around title with a score of 39.350 in the four events.

The top eight finishers in the 2012 USAG Women's Collegiate All-Around are:

1-Monica Mesalles Sallares-Bridgeport-39.350

2-Dana Bonincontri-Penn-39.275

3-Kirsten Strausbaugh-Penn-38.950

4-Kristin Milardo-William & Mary-38.825

5-Jess Pritchard-William & Mary-38.775

6-Katie Canning-Temple-38.450

7-Megan Milavec-Penn & Kaity Watson-Temple-38.425