Southeast Missouri State gymnasts drop dual meet to UIC

The Southeast Missouri State gymnastics team excelled in the balance beam but was outscored in the three other events in a dual meet road loss against the University of Illinois- Chicago.

Southeast claimed the top two scores in the beam on its way to a season-high team score of 48.825, but UIC won the meet 193.625-191,800.

Southeast sophomore Ashley Thomas, who finished second in the all-around, won the balance beam with a career-best 9.850. Junior teammate Taylor Penzien was close behind with a 9.825. The Redhawks claimed five of the top six scores in the event, including a 9.725 by both senior Erin Brady and freshman Alexis Brawner, who tied for third with UIC's Gabrielle May.

Southeast outscored UIC, which totaled 47.650 in the beam, by more than a point in the event but was bettered by the Phoenix in each of the other events.

UIC claimed the top five scores in the floor exercise, where it outscored Southeast by more than two points at 48.675-46.550. UIC also had the top two finishers in the uneven parallel bars and vault.

May finished first in the all-around at 39.225, while Thomas was second at 38.850. The Redhawks' Alexandria Stokes, a sophomore, finished third at 37.550.

"The team stepped up and did a great job on beam today," Southeast coach Kristi Ewasko said in a release. "We talked about this being a practice for next weekend. Hopefully we'll build some confidence and get prepared for the MIC Championships."

The Redhawks will compete at the Midwest Independent Conference Championships on Saturday at Texas Women's University in Denton, Texas.