Sooners Ranked No. 2 as RQS Begins

NORMAN, Okla. -- The Oklahoma women's gymnastics team's streak of top-two rankings continued this week as the Sooners were slotted No. 2 in the national listing. This week marks the first this season in which rankings are tabulated according to regional qualifying score (RQS).

RQS is based on a team's six best regular season scores, three of which must be away. The overall high score is eliminated, and the five remaining scores are averaged. RQS scores are used to determine seeding for regional competition at six campus sites in April.

Oklahoma's RQS: 197.405
~~1. 198.175 (A)~~
2. 197.700 (H)
3. 197.575 (A)
4. 197.325 (H)
5. 197.225 (A)
6. 197.200 (A)
--------------------
Avg. 197.405

Top-ranked LSU leads the way this week with a nation-best RQS of 197.470, earning its first No. 1 ranking this year. Florida slid to No. 3 (197.365), with Alabama coming in at fourth (197.140) and Utah moving to fifth nationally (197.015). OU owns four wins over current top 10 teams this season.

In addition to the squad's No. 2 overall ranking, OU is the only team in the nation to own top-three rankings on every event. The Sooners are second on beam (49.280) and third on vault (49.445), bars (49.340) and floor (49.370).

The individual rankings saw a shake-up this week with a shift to RQS, meaning competitors must have at least six appearances under their belt to be ranked. Oklahoma pulled down 11 individual rankings this week, with at least three student-athletes ranked on vault, bars and beam.

Sophomore Haley Scaman continues to pace the Sooners, coming in at seventh overall on vault (9.915) and earning a tie for eighth on floor (9.920). Rebecca Clark, Taylor Spears and Keeley Kmieciak joined Scaman as OU team members ranking in the top 25 on multiple events. Clark is seventh on beam (9.875) and tied for 18th on bars (9.865), while Spears is tied for 16th on beam (9.860) and 18th on bars (9.865). Kmieciak is just behind Scaman at No. 8 overall on vault (9.905) and is tied for 25th on bars (9.855).

Freshman McKenzie Wofford rounds out OU's group of four to earn a national ranking on bars, with the true freshman leading the way at No. 13 nationally (9.875). Sophomore Maile'ana Kanewa joins classmates Scaman and Kmieciak as Sooners ranked on vault, tying for No. 25 overall (9.875), and junior Erica Brewer is tied for 23rd nationally on beam (9.840).

Oklahoma fans will have their last two chances to see No. 2 OU in Norman over the next two weeks of competition. The Sooners are set to face No. 15 Illinois this weekend at the Lloyd Noble Center, with the contest set for a 6:45 p.m. start on Friday, Feb. 28.

Players Mentioned

Erica Brewer

Rebecca Clark

Maile'ana Kanewa

Keeley Kmieciak

Haley Scaman

Taylor Spears

McKenzie Wofford

Sponsors

University of Oklahoma Athletics