After three-straight meets of posting season-high team scores, the Iowa women’s gymnastics team hit a roadblock against Southeast Missouri State on March 19.

The No. 30-ranked Hawkeyes fell, 193.625-195.125, to the No. 41 Redhawks in Cape Girardeau, Mo.

Iowa had previously tallied a 195.400 — its highest score this season — on March 12 in a loss to Louisiana State in Baton Rouge, La. However, the GymHawks couldn’t use that momentum to win a second dual meet this year.

The bright spot for Iowa came in the form of junior Houry Gebeshian. The Newton, Mass., native hit a 39.100 to claim the all-around title. Fellow Hawkeye junior Rebecca Simbhudas finished second, followed by sophomore Jessa Hansen in fourth.

Simbhudas won the vault competition with a score of 9.875. Junior Andrea Hurlburt, a Waterloo, Iowa native, placed second in the beam with a score of 9.800.

“I think the problem was in our minds and thought process,” Iowa had coach Larissa Libby said. “We really moved forward thinking about conference championships. I think maybe we relaxed a little bit too much. Certainly, I’m not glad we had a loss, but I’m glad that it happened now. Maybe it was the knock in the head we needed to regain composure.”

— by Robbie Lehman