ISU Scores Second-Best Season Mark in Loss at NU

LINCOLN, Neb.?The No. 16 Iowa State gymnastics team delivered its second-highest tally of the campaign and went neck-and-neck with 11th-ranked Nebraska for the duration of Sunday's meet in the Devaney Center Sunday afternoon but was downed 196.450-196.125. ISU's record dropped to 6-7 overall and 0-3 in the Big 12.

ISU's three highest scores this season have come on the road at Big 12 opponents, with a 196.225 at Oklahoma and a 196.000 at Missouri, as well as Sunday's tally.

ISU head coach Jay Ronayne was impressed that his squad performed well against another highly ranked conference opponent.

“The strength of our team this year has been stepping up when a highly ranked opponent is staring us down, as we showed tonight,” he said.

Adding to Ronayne's high spirits was the fact the Cyclones were strong at the site of this year's Big 12 Championships which will take place in two weeks.

“We've been thinking a lot that two weeks from now it's going to be the same place, same time as this week, against the teams we've done our best against this year for the Big 12 meet,” Ronayne said. “So, in essence, this was a dress rehearsal for the Big 12 Championships, and I was proud of our performance.”

Despite battling an eye infection, sophomore Michelle Browning won her fifth all-around title of the year, with a 39.325. Browning's mark was just off her career best of 39.350. The Cornhuskers' Maria Scaffidi and Brittany Skinner tied for second in the all-around with scores of 39.125.

“Michelle was fighting through an eye infection she woke up with today,” Ronayne said. “We were joking during warm-ups that she would have to vault while struggling to see the vault. Michelle responded with another awesome performance today on all four events.”

The Cyclones started off hot with a solid 49.075 bars performance. Jody McKellar was Iowa State's top performer with a 9.850. Browning posted a career-best 9.825 on the apparatus, while Ashley Kent (9.825) and Megan Barnes (9.775) tied their season-high scores. Ceilia Maccani was also strong, registering a 9.800. Iowa State's solid performance on bars could not match the Huskers' prolific 49.300 vault score, as Nebraska (14-3/2-1 Big 12) illustrated why it is the fifth-ranked vault team in the country. The score after the first rotation was 49.300-49.075, with Nebraska ahead.

A second season-high score helped ISU stay within striking distance of the Cornhuskers at the midway point with the score at 98.475-98.225, as the Cyclones scored 49.150 on vault. Browning delivered her second straight career-high score with a 9.875, while Shea Anderson (9.850) and Alex Grant (9.825) tied their career bests. Maccani posted her second solid performance of the afternoon with a 9.825.

Iowa State closed the gap on Nebraska to 147.350-147.200 after the third rotation with a 48.975 on floor. Browning again posted the ISU high score with a 9.825. Elizabeth Stranahan set a career mark with a 9.775, while Anderson tied her season high with a 9.775. Celine Paulus and Anna Robey each delivered 9.800s.

Ronayne was particularly impressed with the performance of the two ISU freshmen who struggled in the last meet on floor.

“Having (Elizabeth) and Jessica (Rizzi) come back this week and do a much better job on floor than last week gives me much more confidence in their abilities,” Ronayne said.

In the last event, Iowa State tallied a strong 48.925 on beam, but Nebraska answered with a 49.100 on floor to seal the meet. Kent notched a 9.850 that was good enough to share the event crown with Nebraska's Kassandra Nathe. Browning rounded out her evening with a 9.800, while McKellar also notched a 9.800. Paulus posted a strong 9.775 on beam for the Cyclones.

Iowa State returns to action Saturday at 6 p.m. when it travels to Minneapolis, Minn., to face Minnesota in the Sports Pavilion.

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Players Mentioned

Shea Anderson

Shea Anderson

Shea Anderson

Megan Barnes

Megan Barnes

Michelle Browning

Michelle Browning

Michelle Browning

Ashley Kent

Ashley Kent

Ceilia Maccani

Ceilia Maccani

Jody McKellar

Jody McKellar

Jody McKellar

Celine Paulus

Celine Paulus

Celine Paulus

Anna Robey

Anna Robey

Elizabeth Stranahan

Elizabeth Stranahan

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