The University of Minnesota women’s gymnastics team earned a season-high score to defeat Iowa State 195.775-195.225. Junior Alexis Russell led the way for the Gophers, tallying a personal-best mark of 39.375 in the all around, and earning personal-best scores on uneven bars (9.85) and floor exercise (9.875).

The Gophers started the meet on vault, where they earned their best vault total of the season with a 48.725. Carmelina Carabajal was the event champion, earning a personal-best 9.925. Carabajal’s vault score is the best by a Gopher gymnast since Laura Johnson earned a 9.925 in the 2003 season, and her score is tied for third on Minnesota’s all-time top performers list. Alexis Russell also finished in the top three, earning a season-high 9.85 to place third overall. Lucy Ennis tied for fifth place, and had the best vault score of her career with a 9.775.

In the second rotation, Minnesota competed on bars and had a total of 48.925. Kristin Furukawa won her second uneven bars title of the season, earning a 9.9 to set a new career-best score. Alexis Russell was the runner up on bars with a 9.85, a personal-best score. Lucy Ennis made her competitive debut on bars and earned a 9.65.

For the third week in a row, the Gophers earned their best score of the competition on balance beam. Minnesota had a total of 49.050, the third time this season the team has surpassed 49.0 on beam. In her first competition in the beam line up this season, Kristin Furukawa earned her second event title of the evening, tying for first place on beam with a mark of 9.875. Carmelina Carabajal was also in the top three on beam, earning a 9.825 to place third.

Minnesota finished the night on floor with a 49.075, the team’s top floor score of the season. Four Gopher gymnasts earned career-best scores in tonight’s meet. Alexis Russell was the Gophers’ top scorer, earning a career-high 9.875 to finish third overall. Kendra Elm also set a personal-best mark, earning a 9.825 to place fourth. Yuri Nagai placed fifth with her caerer-best mark, a 9.8. Ana Balboa tied for eighth place, earning a personal-best of 9.775.

In the all around competition, Gophers Alexis Russell and Carmelina Carabajal finished in the top two spots once again. This week, Russell was the all around winner, earning the best all around score of her career with a 39.375. Carabajal was the runner up, earning a 39.25.

The Gophers compete at home again next weekend, hosting Gustavus, Hamline, and Winona State in the annual Always Dream Best of Minnesota Meet. The competition features all four collegiate women’s gymnastics teams in the state of Minnesota, and will being at 6 p.m. in the Sports Pavilion on Saturday, Feb. 14.