The Gustavus women’s gymnastics team scored a season-best 174.450, but it was not enough to defeat UW-La Crosse, which scored 179.850 and won all four events, in a dual meet on Saturday at the Lund Center Forum. The Gusties were led by Laura Hansen (Sr., Inver Grove Heights, Minn.), who won the uneven parallel bars by 0.400 with a career-high score of 9.375.
Gustavus posted individual event scores of 44.875 on the vault, 42.800 on the uneven bars, 43.350 on the balance beam, and 43.425 on the floor exercise. UW-La Crosse posted individual event scores of 46.575 on the vault, 43.900 on the uneven bars, 44.525 on the balance beam, and 44.850 on the floor exercise.
In an extremely close all-around competition, UW-La Crosse’s Kelsey Mutala finished first with a total of 35.900, narrowly edging Gustavus’ Christine Askham (Sr., Arvada, Colo.) with a total of 35.850. Askham registered scores of 8.925 on the vault, 8.925 on the uneven bars, 8.900 on the balance beam, and 9.100 on the floor exercise. Jackie Mutala of UW-La Crosse placed third in the all-around with a total of 35.725.
UW-La Crosse garnered first place finishes in three of the four individual event competitions as Gabi Hooper won the vault (9.650), Courtney Gonzales won the balance beam (9.325), and Kelsey Mutala and Gabi Hooper tied on the floor exercise (9.175). Laura Hansen claimed the lone event title for the Gusties as she won the uneven bars (9.375).
Other top finishes for Gustavus included Christine Askham placing third on the uneven bars (9.100) and tying for third on the floor exercise (9.100) and Laura Hansen finishing third on the balance beam (9.000). The top scores on vault came from Breann Moore (Fy., Wendell, N.C.) and Aryn Bell (Sr., Eden Prairie, Minn.), who finished fourth (9.200) and fifth (9.175), respectively.
Gustavus will compete in the UW-Stout Invitational on Friday in Menomonie, Wis. at 6:00 p.m.