NASHVILLE, Tenn. — History was made on Thursday at Allen Arena, as the St. Mary's University STUNT team won its first-ever game at the National Championship, defeating league rival Texas Woman's in the Second Round, 24-16, to stay alive in the double elimination bracket.
The Rattlers, ranked and seeded No. 12 at the tournament, started the day with a 23-12 loss to No. 5 Maryville before bouncing back to win over the Pioneers.
At 12:30 p.m. on Friday, St. Mary's will face the loser of the No. 2 Jessup vs. No. 7 Purdue Northwest contest, which begins at 7 p.m. on Thursday.
GAME ONE (Maryville 23, StMU 12)
Head Coach
Jordan VanTimmeren subscribes to the 'Go big or go home' philosophy, calling routine seven right out of the gate for the first round of game one. The Saints took the first point, but the Rattlers scored four points over the next three rounds, including winning routine three within two for the 6-4 score.
The Rattlers kept close, dropping the first three rounds in pyramids & tosses by minor deductions, but the Saints closed the half with an outright win on routine two for the 13-7 lead at the half.
Routines two and four in the third quarter were both within two, but StMU didn't score against the standard on routine seven, and the Saints grabbed the point on routine one for the 18-9 advantage.
Maryville called routine one to start the fourth quarter, and despite StMU scoring three points, the Saints won section one and three by minor deductions to build a 23-12 lead, which enacted the mercy rule.
| Game #1 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
Total |
| MU |
6 |
7 |
5 |
5 |
23 |
| StMU |
4 |
3 |
2 |
3 |
12 |
GAME TWO (StMU 24, TWU 16)
After not scoring any points on routine six in the first quarter, the Rattlers scored on each of the next three during partner stunts, including winning routines five and seven outright for the 4-1 lead after one period.
All four routines in the second quarter were decided within two, with the Rattlers getting the edge in all of them to open a 12-5 lead at halftime.
The Pioneers cut into the lead by winning routines two and four within two in jumps & tumbling before StMU won by minor deductions, and the quarter finished with the Rattlers not scoring on routine seven for the 16-10 tally.
The Rattlers outscored the Pioneers 4-3 in each of the first two rounds of the final quarter, on routines one and four to secure the 24-16 victory. The final rounds were not contested as the Rattlers had opened a lead big enough to enact the mercy rule.
| Game #2 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
Total |
| TWU |
1 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
16 |
| StMU |
4 |
8 |
4 |
8 |
24 |
