FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The Arizona women's gymnastics team posted its highest road score of the season, but fell to 10th-ranked Arkansas 197.275 to 196.125 on Friday night. Still, the Wildcats set a program record on the balance beam, closing out the meet with a 49.525 in the event.
"This was a total team effort from start to finish," head coach
John Court said. "I am so proud of our team for the way we handled a competitive, hostile environment on the road. We have been waiting for a meet like this all season and we were fantastic all around."
 Arizona topped the 196-mark for the second time this season, coming close to the season high of 196.325 set against Utah in January. However, tonight's 196.125 is easily the highest road score of the year and significantly boosts the team's Regional Qualifying Score moving forward.
Fast Start
Arizona opened the meet with a score of 49.375 on the uneven bars, which was not only a season-high in the event but also the second-highest event score of the season. Five gymnasts tied or set new season highs, while
Christina Berg stole the show with a new career-high of 9.925.
Haylie Hendrickson (9.875) and
Maddi Leydin (9.850) also tied career highs, while
Madison Cindric (9.875) and
Danielle Spencer (9.850) equaled their respective season highs.
Record-Setting Finish
It was a dream finish for the Wildcats on balance beam. Arkansas, which ranked ninth in the nation on the balance beam entering the week, posted an impressive 49.400 in the event in the third rotation. Arizona out-performed the Razorbacks with a 49.525 that was good enough to set a new school record on the balance beam. The previous high mark of 49.500 was set against Oklahoma on Feb. 14, 2003.
"We had an outstanding week of practice on beam," Court said. "We did everything tonight exactly how we practiced, and I couldn't be more proud of our team. They deserved this because of how hard they worked."
Five Wildcats at least tied their career highs on beam. Leading the way was
Madison Cindric with a near-perfect 9.950. She was closely followed by
Victoria Ortiz and
Courtney Cowles, who each earned 9.925s.
Haylie Hendrickson (9.875) and Kennedy Schneider (9.850) also matched career-best marks.
Cowles' Career Night
Sophomore
Courtney Cowles delivered a pair of career-best performances. She opened her competition with a 9.825 on vault, surpassing her previous season and career high of 9.800. Later, she finished with an incredible 9.925 on beam to shatter her previous career high score of 9.800.
New Career Highs
Berg: 9.925 – UB
Cindric: 9.950 – BB
Cowles: 9.925 – BB; 9.825 – vault
Hendrickson: 9.875 – UB (ties); 9.875 0 BB (ties)
Leydin: 9.85 – UB (ties)
Ortiz: 9.925 – BB
Schneider: 9.85 – BB
New Season Highs
Cindric: 9.875 – UB (ties)
Parks: 9.75 – V
Spencer: 9.85 – UB (ties)
Up Next
Arizona returns to McKale Center for their final home meet of the regular season on Friday, March 9. The Wildcats will host UNC, Air Force, and San Jose State for a quad-meet competition. Following a week at home, UA travels to LSU on March 17 for their final meet of the regular season.
