The meet opened with the Compulsory Event, where the Bears posted a 35.250, trailing narrowly behind the Sharks' 36.100. However, Morgan bounced back in Pyramid Heat 3, securing a victory with an impressive 9.600.

Moving into the Acro Event, the Bears had to adjust their lineup due to an injury. Despite the challenge, sophomore Malay Stubbs stepped up in Heat 3, proving her versatility and making a strong impact on the mat.

"Makaya pushed through and realized the important role she had to play, knowing the audience that Heat 3 has through social media, so I knew it was important for her," said teammate Olivia Phillip.

At halftime, the battle remained razor-close, with LIU leading 90.300 to Morgan's 89.850. The Bears remained consistent, earning 9.650 in both Heat 2 and Heat 3.

Despite their strong performance in the first half, Morgan head coach Regina Smith expressed her frustration with the second-half results. 

"You know, it's disappointing," Smith lamented in the post-game interview. "This should have been another win for us. This is the second week where we should have had two wins under our belt…' Her disappointment was palpable as she continued, highlighting a recurring issue plaguing the team. 'In the second half, we tend to give it away. And so for me, it's disappointing.' 

LIU faced a setback in Heat 3 after a fall resulted in a score deduction to 8.250, while Morgan capitalized, taking the event with a 28.800 to the Sharks' 27.450.

However, LIU regained ground in the Toss Event, finishing with a 26.950 compared to Morgan's 25.750.

The Tumbling Event showcased some standout individual performances from the Bears. Morgan State closed the event with a 46.550, while LIU extended its lead with a 49.900.

In Heat 3's Quad Tumbling Pass, the Bears earned an 8.350, while junior A'lycia Moore made a strong statement in her first Aerial Pass since returning from injury, scoring 9.100.

"She told me to pipe down on my tumbling a little bit in my power, and I did so, but in the middle of the pass, I just had to trust myself," said Moore. "With all the crowd around me, I had to block everything out and just hear the mat in my tumbling. But I felt amazing." 

In the Team Routine, the Bears left everything on the mat, pushing to close the gap. However, LIU edged them out with a final score of 74.970 to 73.270.

At the end of the meet, LIU took the victory with a total score of 242.120 to Morgan State's 238.070.

Looking ahead, Coach Smith remains focused on improvement:

"I think for us, we're going to go back to the drawing board. We really want to make sure that we come out with a win for the rest of this season."

Though they fell short, the Bears showed resilience and determination in their home opener, setting the stage for a competitive season ahead.

The Bears return to Hill Field House on Sunday March 9, 2025 at 3 p.m. when they go head-to-head with Presbyterian College. 




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ABOUT MORGAN
Morgan State University, founded in 1867, is a Carnegie-classified high research (R2) institution offering nearly 140 academic programs leading to degrees from the baccalaureate to the doctorate. As Maryland's Preeminent Public Urban Research University, and the only university to have its entire campus designated as a National Treasure by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, Morgan serves a multiethnic and multiracial student body and seeks to ensure that the doors of higher education are opened as wide as possible to as many as possible. For more information about Morgan State University, visit www.morgan.edu.