Jan. 20, 2002

NEW HAVEN, Conn. - The University of Massachusetts women's gymnastics team claimed a 191.825-191.750 decision over Yale here on Sunday afternoon. With the victory, UMass evens its record at 1-1, while Yale falls to 2-1.

The Minutewomen were led by junior Megan Donoghue (Tewksbury, Mass.), who captured her first all-around title. Donoghue scored a career-high 38.675, the eighth-highest all-around total in school history. She tied for second on both vault (9.650) and balance beam (9.750), and placed second on floor exercise (9.825). Her balance beam score was the highest of her career, while her floor exercise score was her second best.

In the first event of the day, UMass scored a 47.825 on parallel bars 47.725 on vault. After the Minutewomen scored a 47.700 on vault and the Bulldogs tallied a 48.425 on bars, UMass trailed 96.150-95.575.

The Minutewomen took the lead for good with a 48.500 on floor exercise, while Yale totaled a 47.300 on beam. After three rotations, UMass led 144.075-143.450. UMass held on for the victory with a 47.750 on beam, while the Bulldogs scored a 48.300 on floor exercise. Yale initially had enough points to eclipse the Minutewomen, but two gymnasts each had a one-tenth of a point deduction.

Junior Katie Teft (Grand Rapids, Mich.) continued to provide outstanding scores for the Minutewomen on both balance beam and uneven bars. Teft won the balance beam competition with a 9.825, while claiming a share of the uneven bars title with a 9.875.

"This was one of the closest meets we've ever had, and it was great to be on the winning side," head coach Dave Kuzara said. "We had clutch performances from Megan Donoghue, who had an outstanding day on all four events, and Katie Teft, who continues to be one of the best gymnasts in the country on both balance beam and uneven bars."

The Minutewomen will return to action next Saturday, as they travel to Ithaca, N.Y., to face Cornell. The meet is scheduled to begin at 1:00 p.m.