DENVER – The No. 7-ranked University of Denver women's gymnastics team captured a 196.925 win in Sunday's Senior Day quad meet in Magness Arena.
 
Denver celebrated seniors Maddie Karr (Stillwater, Minn.) and Courtney Loper (West Des Moines, Iowa) in the final regular season home meet of their careers while earning wins over No. 12-ranked Washington, San Jose State and Alaska.
 
"We continue to make lineup adjustments," head coach Melissa Kutcher-Rinehart said. "This team is just incredibly resilient. I don't know of many other teams that could continue have this level of adversity and respond with this level of resiliency and grit. Our athletes are working out of their comfort zones, and different people are stepping up, showing their mental toughness. It will be instrumental for the rest of this year and for the future."
 
DU opened the meet on vault, competing five-up, five-count, where Karr captured her first of four titles with her 9.900. Both junior Emily Glynn (Longmont, Colo.) and sophomore Alexandria Ruiz (Lake Mary, Fla.) scored 9.800 for DU's second-highest score of the rotation. Sophomore Alexis Vasquez (Arcadia, Calif.) made her collegiate debut on vault and scored a 9.725 while freshman AK Subject (Wayzata, Minn.) added a 9.675.
 
Denver's top event score of the meet came on bars with a 49.425, led by Karr's fourth near-perfect 9.975 of the season. Glynn was just .025 off her season high with a 9.900, and Ruiz tied her season's best score with a 9.875. Subject earned a 9.850, and freshman Amoree Lockhart (Fort Worth, Texas) matched her personal best with a 9.825 to give Denver five counted scores above 9.800. Sophomore Natalie Morton (Waycross, Ga.) set a new personal best with a 9.750 as well.
 
The Pioneers also counted five scores at or above 9.800 on beam, highlighted by Vasquez's event-winning 9.950 – her ninth beam score above 9.900 of the season. Karr tied for second with a 9.900. Freshman Callie Schlottman (Savage, Minn.) scored a 9.825, just missing her personal best by .025. Ruiz and freshman Emma Brown (Adel, Iowa) both tallied 9.800s while Lockhart rounded out the scoring with a 9.750.
 
Karr matched her career high with a 9.950 to tie for the event title and led Denver to a team event score of 49.325. Lockhart also matched her personal best, scoring a 9.875. Glynn and Ruiz scored matching 9.850s while Subject's 9.800 gave DU a third rotation with five counted scores of at least 9.800.
 
Karr celebrated Senior Day with a win in the all-around with a 39.725, tying the fifth-highest score in Denver history. Ruiz placed third overall with a 39.325, just one tenth off of her career high.
 
In the final team standings, No. 7 Denver topped No. 12 Washington (196.125), San Jose State (193.775) and Alaska (193.525).
 
Speaking about the team's two seniors, Kutcher-Rinehart said after the meet, "Courtney's been instrumental as she's transitioned to our Student-Athlete Coach. Her investment, character, passion and commitment is special, and she is special.
 
"Maddie is an extraordinary athlete. Her level of competitiveness, consistency and focus is truly the best in the country. She is deserving of all of the accolades she has and will continue to receive. She's truly a leader, in and outside of the gym."
 
The University of Denver women's gymnastics team, presented by Your Hometown Toyota Stores, concludes its regular season with a trip to Nebraska on Saturday, March 14.
 
NCAA REGIONALS ARE COMING TO DENVER
The University of Denver will host NCAA regional competition on April 2-4 in Magness Arena. All-session tickets can be purchased online or by calling the Ritchie Center Box Office at 303-871-4625.
 
SHOP PIONEERS
Get dressed for game day! Get your Pioneers gear at ShopPioneers.com, the official online store of University of Denver Athletics.
 
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Fans interested in making a donation to the gymnastics program can do so online. Your contribution will make a direct impact on the success of YOUR Pioneers. Thank you in advance for your unwavering support of our student-athletes and their quest for excellence.
 
2020 DENVER ATHLETIC HALL OF FAME RECEPTION
Denver announced its 2020 Athletic Hall of Fame class in January. The inductees will be honored on the DU campus May 16. For more information, registration for the reception and donation information, click here.

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