No. 13 Cyclones Top No. 21 Minnesota

MINNEAPOLIS- The 13th-ranked Iowa State gymnastics team improved to 4-0 overall as it defeated No. 21 Minnesota, 194.525-194.400, Saturday night. Janet Anson led the Cyclones with first-place finishes in the all-around (39.225), floor (9.90) and bars (9.775). ISU's Megan Barnes made her all-around debut with a 38.875, which kept the Iowa State surge going strong thoughout the night. The performance helped Barnes earn meet MVP honors for the Cyclones.

"To be honest, we weren't sharp," Iowa State gymnastics coach Jay Ronayne said. "It was a victory but it was a disapointing victory. Janet Anson was strong and Megan was our most valuable performer. We tell our kids that if you compete in a meet the way you practice good things will happen. That is what Megan did."

Iowa State began the evening on the uneven bars and put up a 48.425 team effort. Anson took first place, recording a 9.775. Sophomore Jasmine Thompson scored a season-high 9.70 to tie for third place.

Iowa State moved to vault in the second rotation and came out with a 97.325-96.650 lead over Minnesota. ISU was led by Barnes' first-place vault (9.85). The freshman from Salt Lake City, Utah, has won two vault titles in the first two meets of the year. Katie Lasher tied with Minnesota's Carmelina Carabajal for second with a score of 9.825.

“I think winning vault is just a perk,” said Barnes. “I just wanted to hit my vault because we needed to do well on vault to get the momentum going.”

The Cyclones continued on to floor and put up 48.775 to bring their total to 146.10 to the Gophers' 145.475, keeping a narrow lead heading into the last rotation. Once again it was Anson, with a 9.90 routine, who anchored the team's season-high floor score.

ISU faced beam in the final rotation, an event in which Iowa State returns four of the six routines from 2006. The ISU beam squad scored a 48.425, enough to earn the overall victory. Senior Ashley Alden nailed her flight series and finished strong with a stick on her landing, scoring a 9.825 to lead the Cyclones.

“Nikki Dilbert came in here with two bad ankles and she hasn't been able to vault well,” said Ronayne. “She was in a position tonight where I needed her to vault and she hit a vault when we needed her to. That was a bright spot for the team. Also, Katie Sweetin, another freshman, is doing a great job.”

With the win, Iowa State is a perfect 4-0 against Big Ten Conference foes over the last two seasons.

The Cyclones will face Minnesota again later in the season when the Gophers return the trip to Ames on March 2.

Iowa State will play host to No. 7 Nebraska to open Big 12 Conference competition in its Hilton Coliseum debut on Friday, at 7 p.m.

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Players Mentioned

Ashley Alden

Ashley Alden

Janet Anson

Janet Anson

Megan Barnes

Megan Barnes

Nikki Dilbert

Nikki Dilbert

Katie Lasher

Katie Lasher

Katie Sweetin

Katie Sweetin

Jasmine Thompson

Jasmine Thompson

Jasmine Thompson

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