EUGENE, Ore. – The second-ranked Oregon acrobatics and tumbling team travels to face No. 1 Baylor on Sunday at 1 p.m. PT in Waco, Texas.
GAME INFO
When: Sunday, Feb. 25
Where: Ferrell Center | Waco, Texas
Time: 1 p.m. PT
Watch: ESPN+
Live Stats: https://baylorbears.com/sports/2022/2/16/sports-acrotumb-live-scoring.aspx
TOP-TWO SHOWDOWN IN WACO
The top-two teams in the latest NCATA rankings enter the matchup undefeated with Baylor on a 29-meet win streak dating back to the 2021 season. It will be the first road test for Oregon this season after taking down No. 9 Hawai’i Pacific at Matthew Knight Arena in the season opener (Feb. 10).
THE DUCKS vs. THE BEARS
This will be the 36th meeting between Oregon and Baylor, with the latter leading the all-time series 22-13. The pair are the only twouniversities to ever be crowned NCATA national champions as the Ducks claimed each of the first four titles (2011-14) while the Bears have captured the past eight. Oregon is the last team to beat Baylor, winning 281.635-280.660 in Eugene on March 6, 2021.
LAST TIME OUT
Oregon trailed No. 9 Hawai’i Pacific for the majority of the season opener, but put together a solid score in the team event to complete a comeback victory in Eugene. A setback during the six element acro heat put the Ducks behind as the Sharks opened up a 64.650-63.250 lead after the second event. Oregon bounced back by winning the pyramid and toss events, but found themselves needing to make up ground as they trailed 176.050-175.250 entering the final event of the night. The Ducks came together to execute a team event that scored 85.52, which cleared Hawai’i Pacific’s score of 78.08 and secured a 260.500-254.130 season-opening victory for Oregon.
IMPRESSIVE DEBUTS
Oregon put together an impressive performance in the compulsory event against Hawai’i Pacific, scoring 38.45 including a pair of 9.95sin the pyramid and toss heat. Two freshmen – Emily Rezner and Bella Swarthout – played key roles in earning the 9.95s, appearing in each of the heats to help the Ducks earn their highest scores in the respective events since 2022.
SOARING UNDER SUSNARA
Oregon reestablished itself as an elite program in year two under head coach Taylor Susnara. The Ducks finished the 2023 season 6-3 while making their way back to the NCATA finals for the first time since 2019. Susnara and the Ducks claimed five regular-season victories over ranked opponents, including upset wins over Azusa Pacific (twice) and Gannon. UO claimed the No. 2 seed for the 2023 NCATA National Championships after earning the No. 5 seed in Susnara’s first season in charge. Susnara was a three-time NCATA All-American for the Ducks from 2015-18 before working as an assistant for three seasons under then-head coach Keenyn Won. Susnara helped Oregon compile a 13-7 record in her three seasons as an assistant before being named the head coach in June of 2021. In her time as head coach, Susnara has coached three all-Americans and 2022 NCATA Freshman of the Year Blessyn McMorris while guiding her student-athletes to three individual event titles.
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