ST. CHARLES, Mo. -- Southeast Missouri's gymnastics team opened the 2017 season on Sunday in the State of Missouri Meet in St. Charles, Missouri. Southeast placed third with a team score of 190.650, falling to in-state rival Missouri (196.225) and Midwest Independent Conference foe Lindenwood (193.400).
 
The Redhawks opened the meet on beam. They scored a 47.450, led by McKinzie Jones' team-high 9.650. McKenna Stanley finished second in the event with a 9.550. Allyson Bell followed close behind scoring a 9.500. Alexis Brawner (9.450) and Ashley Thomas closed out the scoring for Southeast.
 
In the second rotation, SEMO was on the floor exercise and scored a 47.725.  Brawner paced the squad with a team-high 9.800. Thomas placed second on the team with a score of 9.650. Jones (9.500) and Stanley (9.400) finished third and fourth on the team, respectively. Bell rounded out the rotation with a 9.375.
 
Southeast had a big rotation on vault, scoring a solid 48.300. Courteney Taylor collected the first score of 9.700 or higher in her collegiate career with a team-best 9.775. Brawner came in second tallying a 9.725 in the event. Bell finished third on the event with a score of 9.625. Kendra Benak saw her first collegiate action on vault and scored the team's fourth-highest total with a 9.600.  Stanley and Thomas closed out the scoring with identical scores of 9.575.
 
SEMO closed out the meet on bars, scoring a 47.175.  Jones (9.675) and Taylor (9.650) led the team, finishing first and second, respectively. Bell came in third on the team with a 9.575. Brawner (9.200) and Thomas (9.075) ended the scoring for the Redhawks.
 
Southeast will be back in action Friday, Jan. 20 in its home opener against Lindenwood.  The meet will begin at 6:30 p.m., CT, at Houck Field House.