EUGENE, OR — The fourth-ranked Iona University Acrobatics & Tumbling hit the road for the first time this season with a trip out west to second ranked Oregon on Sunday evening. The Gaels and Ducks battled in the back-and-forth meet as the home team took the narrow 268.105-265.210 victory at Matthew Knight Arena.

COMPULSORY EVENT

The Ducks grabbed the event win in the compulsory event, 38.25-37.55 over the Gaels. Iona took the opening Acro heat 9.5-9.45. Oregon grabbed a slight lead in the pyramid, 9.8-9.75. The Maroon & Gold's best heat was the toss with a 9.85 but the home side countered with a 9.95. Oregon grabbed the last heat 9.05-8.45 for the event win.

ACRO EVENT

Iona scored 28.40 out of a possible 30.00 in the event to take the win as Oregon finished with a score of 26.35. The Gaels created separation in the six-element heat, scoring a 9.40 to the 6.45 from the Ducks.

PYRAMID EVENT

Oregon bounced back in the pyramid event, scoring 29.80 of a possible 30.00. The Gaels hung tough scoring 9.8 in all three heats for 29.40 of a possible 30.00 in the final event before halftime. The synchronized pyramid squad delivered a season-best performance in their heat.

TOSS EVENT

Iona scooped up the event win with a 28-55-27.80 edge over Oregon. The Gaels tied their season-high in the 450 salto toss with a 9.5. Iona followed that up with season-highs in the synchronized toss with a 9.3 and the open toss who scored a 9.75.

TUMBLING EVENT

Oregon claimed the tumbling event with a 57.025-52.150. Junior Olivia Motalbano scored a season-best 9.65 in the aerial heat for the Gaels. Junior Portia Dryden tied her season-high from last meet with another 9.825 in the open heat.

TEAM EVENT

Iona took the win in the team event, scoring 89.160 out of a possible 106.95. The Ducks recorded 89.030 out of a possible 107.78 for the event.

OVERALL

Iona totaled over 260 points for the third time this year. The Gaels earned 265.210 of possible 295.850. Oregon recorded 268.105 of a possible 296.330. Last season in New Rochelle, the Ducks won by 13.260. The Gaels chipped away and cut the margin to 2.895 against the national runner ups from a season ago.

UP NEXT

The Gaels have a quick turnaround with a trip to Sioux Falls, South Dakota on Wednesday, March 18 for a matchup against No. 5 Augustana at 7 p.m. eastern.

THE LINEUP

#0 Breanna Shivarain
#2 Mylah Vanden Elsen
#3 Annabella Cicci    
#4 Keria Ewing
#6 Teresa Jennings
#7 Vicki Zhou
#8 Rachelle Ricafranca
#9 Olivia Montalbano
#12 Ty Upton
#13 Josie Hewett
#15 Violet Strong
#19 Cameron King
#20 Riley Beauchmin
#21 Julienne Templeman
#24 Kendall Vess
#25 Emersen Johnson
#27 Leilani Morales
#30 Karryn Wieda
#31 Portia Dryden
#32 Mya Brayak
#33 Cristiana Abreu
#34 Madison Lutte
#35 Haley Merrill
#36 Laura Rojas
#38 Haley Nalty
#40 Paige Delman
#43 Gia Arias
#46 Anya Heller