MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – The West Virginia University gymnastics team earned a 195.55-195.325 win over Rutgers inside the WVU Coliseum in Morgantown on Senior Day on Sunday afternoon.
 
The two teams were neck-and-neck throughout the meet, swapping the top spot all afternoon. However, the Mountaineers claimed first place after posting back-to-back 49.0+ scores on balance beam and floor exercise to close the meet. WVU recorded scores of 48.725 on vault, 48.5 on the uneven bars, 49.1 on beam and 49.225 on floor. The totals marked West Virginia's second 49.0+ beam score and sixth on floor this season.
 
Beginning on vault, a pair of 9.8 scores from seniors Abbie Pierson and Kiana Lewis led the opening rotation. Sophomore Emma Wehry tallied a 9.775, before matching 9.675's from junior Sierra Muns and freshman Jayden McDonnell completed the scoring on the first event.
 
Moving to bars, freshman Amber Lowe paced the lineup with a 9.775, before junior Anna Leigh earned a 9.75. Wehry recorded a 9.7, while sophomore Miranda Smith posted a 9.65. Pierson capped the rotation with a 9.625 for her routine.
 
After falling behind Rutgers in the team standings following bars, WVU caught up in a big way after posting five scores of 9.8 or higher on beam. Freshman Julia Brown led the way with a career-high 9.875, followed by a 9.825 from Wehry. Pierson, Leigh and freshman Jurnee Lane tallied matching 9.8's to help the Mountaineers reach a 49.1 event score. Of note, Leigh's routine marked her return on beam since her injury last season.
 
Closing the meet on floor, four Mountaineers surpassed the 9.8 threshold, led by a season-best 9.9 from Pierson. The total marked her first 9.9+ score on any event this season. Lowe matched her career high with a 9.875, followed by a pair of 9.85's for Lewis and Brown. The score marked a career high for Brown. Senior Ellen Collins also scored a 9.85 but was forced to settle for a 9.75 after a tenth deduction for stepping out of bounds.  

In the all-around, Pierson tallied a 39.125 total on all four events to finish in first place in the final standings. She also earned event wins on vault and floor. Lewis shared the vault title with Pierson. On bars, Lowe finished in second, followed by Leigh in third. Brown earned her first career event win on beam, while Wehry finished behind her in third. Four Mountaineers finished on the floor podium, with Pierson taking first, Lowe coming in second and Lewis and Brown tying for third.
 
Up next, WVU prepares to cap the regular season with a trip to Minneapolis, Minnesota, for a quad meet against Minnesota, Northern Illinois and Air Force on Sunday, March 17. The meet is slated for 3 p.m. ET, inside U of M's Maturi Pavilion.
 
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