PROVO, Utah - The No. 19 University of Denver women's gymnastics team set season highs as a team on beam and overall in Saturday's Mountain Rim Gymnastics Conference meet at BYU. The Pioneers' 196.150 was good enough for second on the afternoon. No. 15 Boise State posted the highest score of the meet with a 196.625, followed by host BYU in third with a 195.450.

Five student-athletes recorded or tied personal bests on beam, as did three on vault, two on floor and one in the all-around.

Two Pioneers competed in the all-around, both posting identical 38.975s: senior Nina McGee (Cincinnati, Ohio) and junior Katie Menhinick (Paramus, N.J.). Menhinick's performance was a new personal best in the all-around.

"I'm pleased with the improvement of our balance beam performance," head coach Melissa Kutcher-Rinehart said after the meet. "They showed tremendous confidence and mental toughness, and that's how we are capable of performing on beam consistently.

"I'm really pleased that our overall team score improved, too, and I felt that we achieved our goal of improving each meet, as shown by our team score."

Denver opened up the meet on bars, led by McGee's 9.800. Junior Emily Barrett (Norman, Okla.) started off the rotation with a 9.525, which was followed by a 9.550 from junior Rachel Feeken (Tampa, Fla.) and a 9.575 from Menhinick. Freshman Nikole Addison (Lehigh Acres, Fla.) and sophomore Julia Ross (Henderson, Nev.) added a 9.650 and a 9.775, respectively.

The second rotation took DU to beam, where the Pioneers put up their best showing on the event this season with a 49.300. Five Pioneers set or tied career highs, highlighted by sophomore Leah Lomonte's (Katy, Texas) 9.950. Sophomore Rachel Fielitz (Walden, N.Y.) posted a new career best with a 9.825, as did Menhinick with a 9.875. Ross and senior Ellese Sakai-Hart (Aptos, Calif.) tied their personal bests on beam with a 9.800 and a 9.850, respectively. McGee posted a 9.350 after a fall. Lomonte won the event title, and Menhinick tied for third.

"I thought the whole beam rotation was inspiring today, in particular Leah Lomonte's routine," Kutcher-Rinehart said.

After two rotations, the team headed to floor and continued to show why they are No. 8 in the country on the event with a 49.325. Sakai-Hart started off the rotation with a 9.750. All remaining scores from the Pioneers were 9.800 or higher, starting with Menhinick's 9.800. Fielitz and junior Maggie Laughlin (Scottsdale, Ariz.) posted matching 9.850s-Fielitz's tying her career best. Addison again set a new personal high on the event with a 9.875, and McGee continued her success with a 9.950 and another event title. Addison finished tied for third on event.

DU finished the meet on vault with a 49.175. Menhinick started it off for DU with a 9.725, tying her career high, which was followed by a 9.775 from Ross. Addison kept the scores improving with a 9.800, and Barrett added a career-tying 9.850. McGee and Fielitz finished the rotation with matching 9.875s, tying them third in the final event standings.

"I'm really impressed by the character of the team," Kutcher-Rinehart said of the team's performance. "They don't quit. They don't give up. They are extraordinarily mentally tough. They have incredible team chemistry, and I'm extremely proud of them."

The Pioneers continue their February road trip with a visit to West Virginia on Friday, February 13, at 5 p.m. MST before returning home for their final home meet in Hamilton Gymnasium for the year on Saturday, February 21, against BYU and Iowa. The remaining two home meets for DU will be held in Magness Arena.

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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