Gymnastics | 1/9/2021 9:49:00 PM

DENTON, Texas - Freshman Lexi Leake hit a 9.750 on the vault, sophomore Mara Johnson and junior Domi Bonzagni had matching 9.600 scores on the bars, sophomore Alix Pierce and junior Isabel Goyco both posted 9.775s on the beam, while Goyco hit a 9.825 on the floor as the Texas Woman's University gymnastics team opened its 2021 season with a 193.625 point performance in the team's intrasquad performance on Saturday night inside Kitty Magee Arena. 

"I am so incredibly proud of this team and their performance tonight," said head coach Lisa Bowerman. "As I told them at the end of the meet, tonight was a result of their hard work and commitment every single day since March 12th. It would be an understatement to say that what these student-athletes have been through in the past 10 months has been hard.  They have given so much to get to this moment tonight and I absolutely cannot wait to see where they go from here. I have no doubt there are big things ahead for this team this season."

"I would also like to express my gratitude to our staff, administration, and everyone who made this event possible. We are so thankful to be a part of this incredible university."

Newcomers led the way on the vault behind Leake's score, as fellow freshmen Steelie King and Gose both tallied 9.700 scores to lead TWU to a 48.300 mark. The Pioneers saved their best work of the night for beam and floor, however, as Goyco and Pierce's marks were followed closely by another solid performance by King, who turned in a 9.750, and Bonzagni, who scored 9.725 to push the Pioneers to a 48.700 team score on the beam. 

Goyco's score on the floor, followed by matching 9.800s by Gose and Mara Johnson as well as a 9.775 by Bonzagni helped push TWU to a 48.800 score on the floor.

The Pioneers return to action on Saturday, January 16, hosting Lindenwood and Southeast Missouri in a 6 p.m. tri-meet at Kitty Magee Arena. No spectators will be allowed at Pioneers home meets until further notice, however, the meet will be streamed and live stats will be available at twuathletics.com. 

-PIONEERS-