The No. 17 Missouri gymnastics (7-10 2-5) squad took second place in the State of Missouri Meet on March 10. Lindenwood, who is ranked No. 1 in division two, snagged first place ahead of the Tigers and the Southeast Missouri State Redhawks in Cape Girardeau on Sunday afternoon.
Beginning the night on the uneven bars, the Tigers’ score totaled 48.850. Redshirt junior Morgan Porter contributed 9.875, the highest Missouri score of the event. Freshman Frances Bidwill finished with a new career best of 9.775.
In the second rotation, Missouri earned a team score of 48.425 on the balance beam. Sophomore Lauren Clevenger’s score 9.75 led the rest of her teammates, but only finished eighth in the field. Senior Allison Bower and sophomore Gabrielle Gottula tied for ninth on the beam, both with scores of 9.7.
Missouri’s highest-scoring event was the floor routine. Senior Michaelee Turner’s 9.825, junior Aspen Tucker’s 9.825 and sophomore Chelsey Christensen’s 9.8 led the Tigers to a team score of 49.
Missouri rounded out the last rotation of the meet with a 48.925 on the vault. Gottula, Tucker and Bidwill tied with Lindenwood senior Andavea Alexander for top position in the event. All four athletes earned a 9.825. Freshman Hannah McCrary also added a 9.7 in her first competitive event since January.
Mizzou returns home to Columbia one final time this season on March 15 at 7 p.m.
_Edited by Adam Cole | acole@themaneater.com_