NEW ROCHELLE, NY— The eighth-ranked Iona University acrobatics & tumbling team took their first home win of the season Monday night from the Hynes Athletic Center, besting No. 8 Duquesne 252.975-245.095. The Gaels were in control from start to finish, taking home a higher score in five of the six events. The Maroon & Gold's best efforts were highlighted in the tumbling event, where Portia Dryden, Alyssa Lentz, and Olivia Montalbano all played a part in contributing to season high point tallies in the tumbling heats for the Gaels.  

COMPULSORY

The opening event saw the Gaels take an early lead, besting the visitors by a nearly two points with a score of 36.70-34.60. The total for the Gaels was their highest of the season in the compulsory event.  

ACRO

Iona continued their momentum, this time with their narrowest event victory of the dual meet, taking the Acro event by a score of 26.00 to 25.75. The Gaels best efforts in the stanza were highlighted in the 7 Element third heat, taking 9.05 points out of a possible 9.80 starting value. 

PYRAMID

The two sides entered the pyramid event with nearly identical starting values, but the Gaels strong execution would prevail as they scored a 28.55 out of a possible 29.90, compared to the Dukes' 26.95 out of a possible 29.80. 

With the pyramid event concluded, Iona went into halftime up by a score of 91.25 to 87.30. 

TOSS

Back from the break, the Gaels continued their momentum. Scoring a 9.10 out of a possible 9.90 in the 450 Salto heat, Iona went on to take another event victory, 26.40- 25.15. 

TUMBLING

Olivia Montalbano and Portia Dryden set the tone in the Tumbling event, posting a 9.350 in the Duo pass. The pair gathered all but 0.40 points from a 9.75 starting value, their best effort of the season. Alyssa Lentz was the next outstanding Iona performer in the tumbling event, posting a season best 9.70 in the aerial pass. Portia Dryden returned to round off a strong stanza for the Maroon & Gold, posting another season best of 9.750 in the open pass.  

The Gaels efforts would total to a near four-point victory in the tumbling event, besting Duquesne 54.575-50.825.  

TEAM EVENT

Iona posted a 80.75 but ultimately dropped the last event by 1.07 points after a 81.82 effort from the visitors.  

OVERALL

With their highest possible overall score being a 288.950 in Monday night's dual meet, the Gaels took in all but 35.98 points. The Dukes' fell 36.48 points short of their possible total of 281.570.  

THE LINEUP

 #1 Georgia Mason         
#2 Mylah Vanden Elsen         
#4 Alyssa Lentz         
#6 Teresa Jennings         
#8 Rachelle Ricafranca         
#9 Olivia Montalbano         
#11 Samantha Gonzalez         
#12 Ty Upton          
#13 Josie Hewett         
#14 Sophia Huertas         
#15 Violet Strong         
#19 Alexandra Swaris         
#20 Riley Beauchmin         
#21 Julienne Templeman         
#22 Nicole Bonnett          
#23 Jenna Roby         
#24 Kendall Vess         
#25 Emersen Johnson         
#26 Rebecca Lane         
#27 Leilani Morales         
#28 Demi Brown          
#29 Aspen Lentz         
#30 Karryn Wieda         
#31 Portia Dryden
#32 Mya Brayak         
#33 Cristiana Abreu         
#35 Haley Merrill                
#43 Gia Arias     

UP NEXT

The Gaels are set for a two-part Texas road trip, taking on Mary Hardin-Baylor on March 19 before squaring off with first-ranked Baylor on March 22.