March 12, 2016 SEATTLE - The No. 10 University of Denver women's gymnastics team closed out the regular season with a 196.325 on the road, visiting the University of Washington for a tri-meet with Seattle Pacific.
Individually, senior Nina McGee (Cincinnati, Ohio) tallied a 39.275 in the all-around to finish second overall, highlighted by her event-winning 9.925 on floor. Her floor title continued her streak of winning at least one event title in every meet this season.
DU finished second on the night, behind host Washington (196.650) but ahead of Seattle Pacific (193.950).
"The team showed consistency, as well as mental and physical toughness tonight-especially considering that we're currently in finals right now and are proctoring exams on the road," head coach Melissa Kutcher-Rinehart said. "There are areas for us work on and improve our sharpness as we prepare for the postseason."
DU started the night on bars, earning a 49.225 overall after all of the team's scores were 9.8 or higher. Junior Julia Ross (Henderson, Nev.) had DU's highest tally with a 9.875. McGee and fellow senior Katie Menhinick (Paramus, N.J.) each added a 9.850-which matched Menhinick's career high. Freshmen Diana Chesnok (Charlotte, N.C.) and Claire Kern (Charlotte, N.C.) both posted 9.825 to finish out Denver's counted scores.
Four 9.800s helped DU to a 48.975 on beam. Freshman Kaitlyn Schou (Orlanda, Fla.), sophomore Claire Hammen (Loveland, Colo.), senior Emily Barrett (Norman, Okla.) and Menhinick all scored 9.800. Ross had DU's final counted score, a 9.775.
The third rotation took Denver to floor where the team posted a 49.250, led by a 9.925 from McGee. All of the Pioneers' counted scores were 9.800 or higher, starting a 9.800 from Barrett. Schou scored a 9.825, which was followed by a 9.850 from each Hammen and senior Maggie Laughlin (Scottsdale, Ariz.).
Denver closed the meet on vault with a 48.875. For the second time in the meet, Ross led the team in scoring with a 9.825. McGee was next in line with a 9.800. Barrett and Chesnok had matching 9.775s.
The Pioneers will travel to the team's first Big 12 Conference Championships on March 19. The meet is set for a neutral location at Dr. Pepper Arena in Frisco, Texas, against No. 1 Oklahoma, No. 25 West Virginia and Iowa State.
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