SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – The 22nd-ranked University of Iowa women’s gymnastics team posted a team score of 194.825 on Friday night to finish third overall in a tri-meet featuring three ranked teams inside the Jon. M Huntsman Center.

No. 5 Utah (196.625) won the competition while No. 16 Minnesota (195.475) placed second.

Fifth-year senior JerQuavia Henderson made a successful return to the lineup, competing for the first time in two years. Henderson tied for second on floor with a 9.875 and matched sophomore Aurélie Tran for third place in the all-around with a score of 39.125.

BEAM
The GymHawks opened the meet on beam, earning a 48.125 on their first event. Tran led the rotation with a 9.800, followed by a 9.700 from Henderson. Freshman Maggie Ball posted a 9.625 in her collegiate debut, while fifth-year senior Marissa Rojas followed with a 9.600.

FLOOR
In the second rotation, Iowa registered a 48.825 on floor. Henderson led the way with a 9.875, followed by senior Emily Erb’s 9.800. Sophomore Sydney Turner and freshman Stella DePaola matched 9.725 scores, and Tran posted a 9.700.

VAULT
The GymHawks recorded a 48.950 in the third rotation, their highest event score of the evening. Henderson led the Hawkeyes, scoring a 9.850, closely followed by Turner and freshman Sophie Schriever earning a 9.800 in her collegiate vault debut. Tran added a 9.775 in her third event of the night. Senior Hanna Castillo contributed a 9.725 to keep Iowa in the mix heading into the final event

BARS
Iowa concluded the competition on bars posting a 48.925. Tran led the lineup scoring a 9.850, followed by Turner and senior Gianna Masella each adding a score of 9.800. Schriever posted a solid 9.750, followed by freshman Daisy Bowles contributing a 9.725 in her colligate debut.

HEAR FROM HEAD COACH JEN LLEWELLYN
“I think we just needed to get the first event under our belt and then we just kind of got a little bit more settled in after each event. I love that they didn’t allow that first event to shake them; they fought, they stayed gritty, and I was really impressed by that. The scores were a little bit tight, which you expect the first meet of the year, but they handled that really well. The atmosphere was exceptionally electric and amazing with 11,000 people here in such a historic venue, so I also thought they handled that situation with great composure.”

UP NEXT
The nationally-ranked Hawkeyes will host Illinois, Illinois State and Iowa State in the Border Battle meet on Jan. 10. Action inside of the Carver-Hawkeye Arena will begin at 4 p.m. and will be streamed on B1G+ (subscription required).