DENVER – The No. 6-ranked University of Denver women's gymnastics team posted the second-highest score in program history on Sunday, earning a 197.725 to give Denver four-consecutive scores above the 197 mark for the first time in school history.
 
During the meet, the Pioneers broke the school record on beam for the first time since 2004, tallying a 49.550. The team's bars score (49.400) also tied the fifth-best score in school history, and the 49.350 on vault and 49.425 on floor were both season's bests.

DU topped visiting No. 10 Boise State (196.375) and Iowa State (195.425).
 
Junior Maddie Karr (Stillwater, Minn.) captured the all-around title with her season high-tying 39.700. She also finished in first on vault and tied for first on floor to move into third all-time in DU history for the most career titles won, now at 65.
 
"We definitely demonstrated consistency, character and confidence today," head coach Melissa Kutcher-Rinehart said. "It was a busy week academically, but I was incredibly proud of their mental toughness and ability to focus.
 
"They did a good job of taking it one event at a time, one person at a time. They were very good at managing the energy and momentum throughout the meet, but we still have room to improve."
 
Denver began the meet with its best vault rotation of the season, led by Karr's second near-perfect 9.975 this year. For the second meet in a row, sophomore Lynnzee Brown (Kansas City, Mo.) tied her career high with a 9.925 to finish second overall. Junior Diana Chesnok (Charlotte, N.C.) also tied her personal best with a 9.875. Junior Kaitlyn Schou (Orlando, Fla.) and freshman Alexandria Ruiz (Lake Mary, Fla.) earned a 9.800 and a 9.775, respectively, to wrap up DU's counted scores.
 
Sophomore Emily Glynn (Longmont, Colo.) captured her first bars title of the season with a 9.925 to help lead the Pioneers' rotation. Karr finished second with a 9.900 while Ruiz, who tied her career high with a 9.875, tied for third with teammate Brown. Senior Claire Kern's (Charlotte, N.C.) 9.825 and sophomore Mia Sundstrom's (Boulder, Colo.) 9.800 gave DU six scores of 9.800 or higher.
 
Three scores above 9.900 helped seal the highest-ever beam score in DU history. Freshman Alexis Vasquez (Arcadia, Calif.) tied her career high with a 9.950 to win the title while also tying the fifth-highest score in program history. Karr and Schou both tied for second place with 9.925s. Ruiz set a new career best on beam, earning a 9.875 along with Brown to wrap up DU's contributed scores.
 
Denver saw all six scores go above 9.800 on floor, and three Pioneers shared the event title. Schou tied her career high with a 9.900 to share the win with Karr and Brown. Ruiz posted a 9.875 and Sundstrom a 9.850 while Kern tied her personal best with a 9.825.

Three Pioneers finished on the podium in the all-around with Karr taking the top spot with her 39.700, which ties the seventh-highest score in program history. Brown was second with a 39.575, and Ruiz tied for third with a 39.400.
 
"It was a great night on beam, breaking a 15-year-old record," Kutcher-Rinehart added after the meet. "I think there's a direct correlation between training and competition on beam, and they are very automatic. Everyone had a role tonight in a total team effort."
 
The University of Denver women's gymnastics team, presented by Your Hometown Toyota Stores, travels to Champaign, Ill., on Friday, March 1, to take on Illinois in its next meet. The Pioneers return home for their final home meet of the season on Sunday, March 10, against No. 15 Nebraska, No. 20 Arizona State and Pittsburgh in Magness Arena.
 
Single meet tickets are on sale, starting at $9. Tickets can be purchased online or by calling the Ritchie Center Box Office at 303-871-4625.
 
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