CORVALLIS, Ore. – The UIC women's gymnastics team earned a 193.550 team score against nationally ranked No. 9 Oregon State on Saturday afternoon in OSU's Gill Coliseum. The hosting Beavers proved strong to beat by earning their top score of the season (197.475) to take home the dual meet victory.
Mikailla Northern earned her fifth-straight all-around total exceeding 39.000 with the second-highest total of her career (39.125) to take third in all-around competition.
UIC started with a solid 48.650 in the first rotation on bars, led by Northern's 9.800 to take seventh.
Nicole Szabo brought in a 9.750 for eighth place, while
Riley Cholod grabbed a ninth-place finish with a 9.725. Snyder notched a 9.700 on the event, and
Serena Baker gave the Flames a 9.675.
The Flames were just shy of their season-high score on vault, registering a 48.700 team score. Northern was the top UIC finisher, landing in a three-way-tie for fourth with a 9.775. Mahoney and Snyder followed the tie in seventh with a tie of their own, each earning a 9.750. Squillo and Broad rounded out the Flames' top five with a 9.725 and a 9.700, respectively.
On floor in rotation three, UIC compiled its second-highest team score of the season with a 48.925.
Abby Hasanov matched her career-high 9.850 to lead for the Flames and take fifth.
Toni Alicke also grabbed a career-high on floor with a 9.825 to tie for sixth alongside Northern.
Daniela Maciel tied her second-highest floor score of the season with a 9.775, while
Nikki Woodruff earned a 9.650 on the event.
The Flames faltered on beam, absorbing two falls into their team total of 47.275. Northern brought in a 9.725 as UIC's top finisher in seventh. Cholod matched her highest beam score of the season with a 9.625 to tie with Squillo for eighth.
"After a really solid start on the first three events, we were looking at another possible 195," co-head coach
Peter Jansson said. "But we were not able to close out the meet in the same style after a couple mistakes on beam."
"I still think the team looks ready to take on the fight of taking back the Conference title next week at home," Jansson continued.
UIC will return home to host the 2017 Midwest Independent Conference Championships on Saturday, March 18 in the UIC Pavilion.
