The No. 22-ranked Illinois State gymnastics team posted its third highest score of the season, and its highest score in nearly five weeks but fell short to No. 14 Iowa in a 196.425-195.250 contest on Saturday night in Iowa City.
The Redbirds 195.250 is the highest score that they have received this season while on the road. More importantly, the score will serve to lift their overall scoring average and assist them in their bid to make it to the NCAA Regional Championships in April. In order to make it to regionals, the Birds must be among the top 18 teams in the nation or be within the top four or five teams in the South Central region.
Sophomore Heather Mohler led the Redbird campaign as its top all-around finisher of the night. Mohler, from Wadsworth, Ohio posted an all-around mark of 39.225, her second best score of the season, to finish second to Iowas Alexis Maday.
Also finishing strong for ISU, was sophomore Denise Houda from West Dundee, Ill. who posted a 39.000 in the all-around, finished second for the Redbird squad, and fourth overall.
Head coach Jill Hollembeak was pleased with everyones efforts. "Mohler and Houda had excellent meets but I think the entire team performed great. Iowa is a fabulous team and we hung right in there with themone of the best performances of the year as far as Im concerned."
Senior Michelle Huston, who normally finishes higher than she did tonight (7th AA) began the meet with a couple problems but finished strong on beam and floor. Hollembeak assessed Hustons performance after the meet: "She had a problem on both bars and vault early on but once she pulled herself together she was back to her true form."
Huston scored a 9.700 on the balance beam and a 9.900 on floor exercise.
Also finishing strong for the Redbird contingent were sophomore Kristy Kreinbrink and senior Dana Luther on bars ( 9.875 and 9.775, respectively). Luther and freshman Lisa Klein also posted a pair of 9.85s on the balance beam. Klein finished up with a 9.850 on floor exercise as well.
