TOWSON, Md. - Making their home debut under the direction of Coach Vicki Chliszczyk, the Tigers (4-1) posted a seasonal high 193.175 team score as they celebrated their home opener with a decisive victory over George Washington University (6-4) in the Towson Center on Saturday afternoon.

With a very balanced effort, the Tigers won the meet with a 193.175 team score while the Colonials had a 190.525 team score.

The Tigers, who topped their previous seasonal high (191.050) by more than two points, scored over a 48.00 points in all four events.

"It was a great way to start our home schedule," said Coach Chliszczyk. "We hit routines and we didn't count a fall. It was nice to get a high score but I keep telling our gymnasts that we can't control the scoring. All we can do is focus on hitting our routines."

Junior co-captain Avis Hixon led the Tigers' performance by winning the vault and tying for second place on floor exercise.

But the Tiger coach was very happy for senior Emily Hill, who competed in three events for the first time in her career.

Normally a member of the bars lineup, Hill tied for second on bars and matched her career high with a 9.725 score. Vaulting for the first time in her career, she finished eighth with a 9.45 score. She capped off her memorable afternoon by setting a career high with a 9.575 score on balance beam as she finished sixth in the meet.

"We're so happy for Emily," said Chliszczyk. "She has been working so hard and she deserves the success. For the first time in her career, she competed in three events and she hit all three of them. It was a fantastic meet for her."

In the opening rotation, the Tigers vaulted and earned a 48.125 team score to take an early lead. Hixon earned a 9.75 score and finished first in the meet. Junior Lindsay Poplaski also contributed a 9.675 score while junior Kady Sullivan and senior Megan Wooden each posted 9.625 scores.

While the Tigers opened on vault, George Washington posted a 47.850 score on the uneven bars. Freshman Betsy Zander was the GW's top scorer on bars with a 9.725 score while senior Leslie Delima earned a 9.675.

In the second rotation, the Tigers were outstanding as they compiled a seasonal best 48.475 team score on uneven bars. Junior Kacy Catanzaro led the Tigers with a career best 9.80 score as she won the event. Hill matched her career high with a 9.725 score to finish in a three-way tie for second place. Freshman Alexa Davis also earned a career high with a 9.725 score. Four of the Tigers' six gymnasts on bars earned career high scores.

"We did very well on bars," said Chliszczyk. "We just focused on hitting our handstands and nailing our landings. Kacy (Catanzaro) really gave us a gutsy performance. She had an ankle injury during practice this week and we held her out of vault. Then, she did a great job on bars and beam."

While the Tigers were competing on bars, George Washington earned a 47.475 score on vault as Delima led the Colonials with a 9.725 score.

At the mid-point of the meet, the Tigers owned a 96.60-95.325 lead.

In the third rotation, the Tigers maintained their lead with a 48.025 score on beam while GW had a 48.175 on floor. Sophomore Britney Russell had the Tigers' top score on beam (9.675) while junior Poplaski earned a 9.625.

Delima led GW on floor with a 9.775 score as she finished first in the meet.

In the final rotation, the Tigers clinched the victory with a tremendous effort on floor exercise. Towson tied its seasonal high with a 48.55 team score as freshman Sasa Golob earned a career best 9.75 to tie for second place. Davis and Hixon also tied for second on floor while Russell took fifth place (9.725).

The Colonials finished the meet with a 47.025 score on beam, led by sophomore Kayla Carto, who won the event with a 9.70 mark.  

Since the Tigers did not compete any all-arounds, Delima finished first with a 38.80 score while Zander was second with a 38.25 score.

Towson returns to action on Saturday, February 5 when the Tigers travel to Philadelphia to compete in the Liberty Classic, hosted by Temple University.

Team Scores:  1. Towson 193.175; 2. George Washington 190.525.

VAULT: 1. Avis Hixon (TOW), 9.75; 2. Leslie Delima (GW), 9.725; 3. Lindsay Poplaski (TOW), 9.675.   BARS: 1. Kacy Catanzaro (TOW), 9.80; 2. Emily Hill (TOW), 9.725;  Alexa Davis (TOW), 9.725; Betsy Zander (GW), 9.725;  5. Kady Sullivan (TOW), 9.70.

BEAM:  1. Kayla Carto (GW), 9.70; 2. Britney Russell (TOW), 9.675; 3. Lindsay Poplaski (TOW), 9,625; Leslie Delima (GW), 9.625.

FLOOR: 1. Leslie Delima (GW), 9.775; 2. Sasa Golob (TOW), 9.75; Alexa Davis (TOW), 9.75; Avis Hixon (TOW), 9.75.

ALL-AROUND:  1. Leslie Delima (GW), 38.800; 2. Betsy Zander (GW), 38.250; 3. Kayla Carto (GW), 37.925.