CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. – Southeast Missouri women's gymnastics edged Illinois State, 192.775-192.475, behind a huge 49.025 on floor in the final rotation of SEMO's home opener at Houck Field House Friday. The team score and floor mark were season highs for the Redhawks.
Dahlia Solorzano-Caruso captured the vault (9.700) and beam (9.700) titles,
Jordan Jones earned her first career event title on bars (9.875) and
Anna Kaziska won the floor exercise (9.875) in the final routine of the evening.
"Today was amazing," head coach
Ashley Lawson said of the victory. "This is just the start of what this team is capable of. We still have some things to work on, but today was great. To be down by a point going into the last rotation, the girls turned it on and really had an amazing floor rotation. Our first home win [in 2020] against a conference opponent, what more could you ask for? I believe this gives our team the confidence and belief that they need."
Trailing 144.700-143.750, entering the final rotation, Southeast hit a season-high 49.025 on floor. The Redhawks last hit a floor score of 49.000 or higher on March 5, 2017 against Air Force.
SEMO's five scorers registered marks of 9.750 or higher on floor.
Lindsey Moffitt (PR),
Mackenzie Slee and Solorzano-Caruso (PR) each registered identical season-best 9.800s for second overall at the dual. Slee, the 2019 Midwest Independent Conference Vault Champion, competed on the event for the first time in 2020. Solorzano-Caruso had previously notched five straight floor scores of 9.725 to start her collegiate career before her career-best mark.
Molly Maxwell had a career-best 9.750 in the third lineup slot. Kaziska rounded out the meet with a season-high 9.875 to claim the title.
Mallory Desch added a personal-best 9.650 which was dropped.
Southeast opened its home opener with a 47.700 on vault. Solorzano-Caruso led the Redhawks with a 9.700 for first at the meet. Slee added a 9.650 which finished second overall while Kaziska posted a 9.525.
Alana Fischer had a 9.425 and Maxwell rounded out the scorers with a 9.400.
In the second rotation, SEMO notched a 47.825 on bars. Jones led off with a career-best 9.875 for her first career title in her fifth collegiate meet. Kaziska registered a personal-best 9.800 for fourth on the event.
Lindsey Bates added a 9.675 and Fischer chipped in a 9.575.
The Redhawks then tallied a 48.225 on beam. Solorzano-Caruso paced the Redhawks with a 9.700 to win the event. Fischer and Kaziska each had scores of 9.650 which tied for third at the meet. Maxwell added a 9.625. Jones posted a 9.600 and Moffitt rounded out the rotation with 9.550.
Illinois State's Angelica Labat finished first in the all-around competition with 38.950. Kaziska was second with 38.850 and Solorzano-Caruso was fourth with 38.100.
The home dual win was the first for Lawson as head coach at SEMO and the first for the Redhawks since March 9, 2018.
Southeast stays in Cape Girardeau for a second consecutive home dual on Friday, Feb. 7 against Lindenwood. The first rotation is scheduled to start at 5:30 p.m., CT, at Houck Field House. After the two meet homestand, the Redhawks hit the road for three consecutive weeks (four meets).
