ANCHORAGE (Feb. 21) – Led by another strong performance by senior
Montana Fairbairn, the Alaska Anchorage gymnastics team equaled the 10th-best score in program history Friday, totaling 193.325 in a dual-meet loss to Sacramento State at the Alaska Airlines Center.
The Hornets earned the win with 195.150 points, led by a 39.025 all-around from Emma Morganthaler and a 38.925 all-around from Sarah Lutrel.
A team captain, Fairbairn scored 9.85 on floor, 9.75 on beam and 9.7 vault as the Seawolves improved on their season-high team total by nearly a full point. With her floor routine, the Strathmore, Alberta, native became just the fourth Seawolf to earn 9.85 or better at least three times on that apparatus, joining former standouts Dominique Ingram (2004-06), Mandi Burdick (2001-04) and Elena Tkacheva (1994-97).
"We had some late lineup changes and were missing a three-event regular tonight, so I couldn't be more proud of the way our team performed," said UAA head coach
Marie-Sophie Boggasch. "Even with our season high, there's still plenty of room for improvement, and we hope to do even better in front of a great Senior Day crowd Sunday."
UAA continued its consistent performance on vault to start the meet, with freshman
Maribelle Albert earning a career-best 9.7 to match Fairbairn. Sophomore
Jamilia Duffus scored 9.675 and freshman
Hannah Boyd tallied a career-high 9.625 to propel a 48.150 total.
The momentum continued on bars with a season-best 48.450 total, matching the 18th-best figure in program history. Duffus improved her career high to 9.825 to tie for the No. 16 bars score in program history, while senior
Alyssa Manley and junior
Madelyn Gomez delivered 9.7 and 9.65, respectively.
The Seawolves also earned a season-best 48.375 on beam, led by Fairbairn and 9.725s from junior
Breeann Spain (career high) and sophomore
Claudia Lessig. Junior
Arianna DeSouza also came through with a 9.675.
UAA finished with 48.350 points on floor as Fairbairn was complemented by a 9.725 from DeSouza, and a 9.625 from Gomez.
The Seawolves and Hornets meet for a rematch Sunday at 2 p.m. at the Alaska Airlines Center, with 'senior day' ceremonies scheduled to honor UAA's five graduating student-athletes. Find tickets and live links at GoSeawolves.com.
