DENVER – The No. 5-ranked University of Denver women's gymnastics team posted a 195.850 in a Sunday afternoon meet against tie-No. 18 Iowa State (196.050).
 
Among the highlights for the Pioneers were wins for senior Lynnzee Brown (Kansas City, Mo.) on bars and junior Alexandria Ruiz (Lake Mary, Fla.) on beam.
 
COACH'S NOTES:
From head coach Melissa Kutcher-Rinehart: "We changed lineups to give some people a rest. Obviously, it wasn't our strongest performance. We had an outstanding week of practice and while it didn't show today, I 100 percent trust that process."
 
SIGNIFICANT STATS

• Ruiz won her first title of the season, placing first on beam with a 9.875. It is her first career beam title and her fourth overall.
• Brown posted two 9.925s, one on vault and the other on bars. She had the meet's top bars score and the second-highest on vault.
• Sophomore Amoree Lockhart (Fort Worth, Texas) made her 2021 debut, stepping into the floor lineup at the last minute.
• Freshman Rosie Casali (Weddington, N.C.) led Denver's floor scoring with a 9.825 that tied for second overall.

VAULT RECAP
Brown anchored Denver's vault rotation with team-high 9.925, nearly sticking her Yurchenko one-and-a-half. Freshman Jessica Hutchinson (Gilbertsville, Pa.) placed third overall, one spot behind Brown, with a 9.850 – continuing her trend of improving her score in every meet this season. Ruiz, too, increased her score, going a tenth higher than in the first two meets with a 9.800. Casali made the first vault lineup of her career as well.
 
BARS RECAP
For the second straight rotation, Brown highlighted the Pioneers' performance, scoring a 9.925 to capture the event title and help Denver to a 49.325 team score. DU swept the event podium with a 9.900 from senior Emily Glynn (Longmont, Colo.) and 9.850s from Ruiz and freshman Rylie Mundell (Parker, Colo.). All five counted scores for DU were at or above the 9.800 following a 9.800 from Hutchinson.
 
BEAM RECAP
Ruiz's 9.875 was the top score of the day on beam, earning the junior her first title on the event. Freshman Abbie Thompson (Sanford, Fla.) tied for second overall with her 9.850, just .025 off her score in each of the first two meets of the season. Junior Alexis Vasquez (Arcadia, Calif.) added a 9.825 for Denver while Brown and Hutchinson had the team's final counted scores.
 
FLOOR RECAP
Freshman Casali increased her score on floor for the second meet in a row, posting a 9.825 to lead Denver's lineup and tying for second overall. Hutchinson, who moved into the leadoff position, was just off her classmate's pace with a 9.800. Lockhart, who was substituted into the lineup at the last-minute, scored a 9.775 in her first routine on any event this season. Thompson and Ruiz rounded out the counted scores for DU while Brown was rested and did not compete on the event.
 
PODIUM FINISHES
All-Around
Ruiz: Second Place – 39.175
Hutchinson: Third Place – 39.075
 
Vault
Brown: Second Place – 9.925
Hutchinson: Third Place – 9.850
 
Bars
Brown: First Place – 9.925
Glynn: Second Place – 9.900
Mundell: Third Place (tie) – 9.850
Ruiz: Third Place (tie) – 9.850
 
Beam
Ruiz: First Place – 9.875
Thompson: Second Place (tie) – 9.850
 
Floor
Casali: Second Place (tie) – 9.825
 
NEXT UP:
The University of Denver gymnastics team, presented by Your Front Range Toyota Stores, hosts Oklahoma and Temple on Sunday, February 7, at 2 p.m. in Hamilton Gymnasium.
 
VIRTUAL SEASON TICKET: Activate exclusive virtual benefits for the 2021 season! Denver Athletics & Recreation is committed to making the best out of an unprecedented situation and, if we are not able to be together in person at the Ritchie Center, then we will do our very best to bring Denver Gymnastics to you! When you opt-in to be a Virtual Season Ticket Holder you gain access to exclusive season-long benefits including:

• 5280 TOGETHER limited-edition commemorative poster
• Access to individual home meet tickets (based upon availability and guidelines set forth by the NCAA, DU, and local and state health officials)
• Exclusive invitation to the weekly coaches "chalk talk" (virtual)
• Virtual meet notes/program for home and away meets
• Post-meet recap and downloadable stats package

For the latest University of Denver updates on the coronavirus, click here.
 
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