The No. 40 Illinois State gymnastics team posted its highest score on the uneven bars this season - 48.450 behind Kristy Kreinbrinks 9.800 - but it was not enough as the No. 35 Missouri Tigers took every event and topped the Redbirds, 196.475 - 193.600, Thursday in Columbia, Mo.
The Redbirds, 2-2, had highlight performances turned in by Heather Mohler on the vault (9.825), Jaime Reineck on the beam (9.825) and Lisa Klein on the floor (9.825). Mohlers vault score was the highest by any Redbird this season. Klein was the only Bird to finish in the top three in any event, as her floor score was good for third place. Freshman Amy Biedenharn also made a strong showing for the Birds as she turned in scores of 9.700 on the vault, 9.800 on the beam and 9.725 on the floor.
Denise Houda turned in an all-around score of 38.500 and was not able to capture her fourth consecutive all-around title, as first-place honors went to Missouris Lindsay Davis. She earned an all-around score of 39.425 behind first-place finishes on the vault (9.875) and bars (9.850) and second-place finishes on the beam (9.850) and floor (9.850).
The Redbirds hit the road again on Sunday, February 9, when they travel to Kalamazoo, Mich., to take on Western Michigan for a 1 p.m. start time.
