BERKELEY, Calif. - The No. 15 University of Denver women's gymnastics team scored a 195.500 in Sunday's quad meet at No. 17 California, placing the Pioneers in second place. The Bears won the meet with a 195.900, and San Jose State and Arizona State rounded out the competition with scores of 194.200 and 192.650, respectively.

"Once again, the team showed a lot of character," head coach Melissa Kutcher-Rinehart said after the meet. "Again, we had line-up changes due to illness before the meet, and we knew we needed to continue to build off our performances."

For the first time this season, Denver opened the meet on floor, where the squad is currently tied for eighth in the country. All six of the Pioneers posted scores 9.800 or higher, led by senior Nina McGee's (Cincinnati, ohio) 9.900. Senior Ellese Sakai-Hart (Aptos, Calif.), freshman Nikole Addison (Lehigh Acres, Fla.) and junior Maggie Laughlin (Scottsdale, Ariz.) all posted 9.825s, and junior Katie Menhinick (Paramus, N.J.) and sophomore Rachel Fielitz (Walden, N.Y.) each added 9.800s.

The Pioneers headed to vault for the second rotation with hit after hit, totaling a 49.200, their second highest team score on the event this season. After starting off with Menhinick's 9.725, Denver went on run with four consecutive 9.825s from sophomore Julia Ross (Henderson, Nev.), Addison, junior Emily Barrett (Norman, Okla.) and McGee. Fielitz finished the rotation for DU with a stick and a team-high 9.900.

Denver held a narrow lead over California heading into the third rotation. Barrett kicked off the bars rotation with a 9.700. Junior Rachel Feeken (Tampa, Fla.), making her 2015 debut, posted a 9.750. Unfortunately, Menhinick stumbled mid-routine and scored a 9.100. The final three Pioneers banded together to avoid counting the fall, earning a 9.650 from Addison, a 9.775 from Ross and a 9.800 from McGee for a team total of 48.675.

Denver ended the afternoon on beam, posting a team score of 48.450. Sakai-Hart, Fielitz and Lomonte led off with matching 9.725s. Laughlin and McGee both fought for their routines, posting a 9.450 and 9.475 respectively. Ross scored the team's highest score with a 9.800.

"It's a fast turn-around between now and Thursday night's competition at home against OU, and we have to be prepared," Kutcher-Rinehart said, looking ahead to the Pioneers next meet.

Denver returns to action at home on Thursday, January 29, at 7 p.m. in Hamilton Gymnasium, against 2014 co-NCAA National Champion and current No. 1 Oklahoma. The meet will be televised live on Altitude.

Tickets are still available for $9 for each home meet. For ticket information, visit denverpioneers.com/tickets or call the Ritchie Center Box Office at 303-871-2336.

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