postgame interview - Emily Turik (video)

The Lindenwood women's gymnastics team celebrated its first Senior Day on Sunday afternoon at Hyland Arena. The second-year program honored the first senior to go through the program and that senior, Emily Turik, led the team to its second-best all-time score.

Lindenwood finished with a team score of 193.025, just 0.025 behind the school record. The Lady Lions broke 193 for just the second time which helped them remain competitive with NCAA Division I Missouri and Air Force. Missouri won the meet with a 195.125, and Air Force was second with a 193.625. Lindenwood outscored the Falcons in the vault and floor, and finished within 0.400 of the Tigers in those two events.

Turik recorded a career-best all-around score of 38.850, the second-best all-around mark for a Lindenwood gymnast. She also set a new person best on the beam with a 9.725. Turik scored a 9.750 on the bars, a 9.700 on the floor, and a 9.675 on the vault.

As a team, Lindenwood set or tied school records on the vault and bars. On the vault, all six gymnasts scored a 9.600 or higher. Rachel Zabawa led the team with a 9.800, which tied for second in the competition. Aubree Horn was second on the team with a 9.700. On the bars, Courtney Heise led the team with a 9.850, the third-best mark at the event and the second-best mark in school history. Turik was second on the team and Olivia Oswalt was third with a 9.725.

Lindenwood's top event on the day was the final one on the floor as the team recorded a 48.650. All six gymnasts again scored a 9.600 or higher. Zabawa had the second-best score in the competition with a 9.825. Ajiea Hargrave recorded a 9.750, and Turik and Heise both had a 9.700.

The team's lowest score came on the beam with a 47.550. The Lady Lions still received three great performances on that event as Turik, Alicia Floyd, and Zabawa all recorded scores of 9.725.

Lindenwood has just two more weeks of the regular season remaining, starting next weekend with two events at the University of Alaska Anchorage.