Redbirds Post Season-High Score In Road Win At Southeast Missouri

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. – It was another record-breaking night for Illinois State on Friday, as the Redbirds posted a season-high team score and several gymnasts set career-bests in a 195.875 to 194.200 victory over fellow Midwest Independent Conference member Southeast Missouri State at Houck Field House.

Scoring Breakdown:
•    Vault: ISU 49.100, SEMO 48.200
•    Bars: ISU 49.025, SEMO 47.675
•    Beam: SEMO 49.150, ISU 48.550
•    Floor: ISU 49.200, SEMO 49.175

Thoughts from Coach Bob Conkling:
"It was a really good meet for the Redbirds tonight. It was our highest team score for the year and the good news is we have areas where we still can improve. I believe we had quite a few personal best scores tonight, we had five scores of 9.9 or better and Angelica Labat had a great all-around meet. Overall, I'm really pleased with the team's competition tonight and this gives us some momentum heading into a big meet against nationally-ranked BYU next week."
 
Team Notes:
•    The Redbirds got off to a great start, posting a season 49.025 on bars to take the lead after the first rotation.
•    ISU extended its lead with another strong effort on vault, as the group posted a 49.100 to move nearly two points in the lead headed to the third rotation.
•    On floor, the Redbirds once again posted a season-best score with a 49.200, led by a pair of scores over 9.900.
•    Wrapping things up on beam, the Redbirds posted a score of 48.550 to come away with meet win.
•    The 195.875 final score ranks as the third-highest team score in school history.
•    The team's vault and floor scores are tied for the fourth-best marks in school history, and the bars score ranks fifth in the record books.

Gymnast Notes:
•    Just when you think she can't get much better, three-time defending MIC Gymnast of the Week Angelica Labat stepped up her performance by tying her career-best score of 39.475 to win the all-around … that mark tied her previous best set last year at the NCAA Tuscaloosa Regional.
•    The Redbirds took the top three spots on vault, with Alana Laster posting a career-high mark with a huge 9.950 to top her previous high of 9.925 … Labat was in second place with a 9.850 and Jaye Mack was third with a 9.825.
•    Madison Kipp rounded out her night with a career-high score on beam with a 9.900 to finish in a tie for first place.
•    Kipp also tied a career-high with a 9.900 on bars to finish second overall, with Labat right behind in third place with a 9.875.
•    Mack set a new career-high on floor with a 9.925 to finish in second place, with Laster on her heels with a 9.900 to tie for third overall.

Up Next:
The Redbirds will travel to Provo, Utah, on Friday, March 4, to take on No. 12 ranked BYU.

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