By Jess Westendorf
[email protected]

The No. 22 Iowa women’s gymnastics team fell to No. 20 Nebraska,
196.825-195.725, Sunday afternoon in Lincoln.

“I was very pleased with the effort from our entire team today,” head
coach Larissa Libby said in a release. “Top to bottom, we are a better
team this week than we were last week, so I am very encouraged that we
are moving in the right direction.”
The loss to Nebraska is the GymHawks’ first in the Big Ten. The
Hawkeyes had previously defeated Michigan State, Ohio State, and
Maryland.

In the Sunday meet, three GymHawks earned career-high scores:
sophomore Nicole Chow, junior Lanie Snyder, and senior Savannah
Borman.

Senior Mollie Drenth led Iowa with a score of 39.175 for fourth in
the all-around, and senior Angel Metcalf followed in sixth with a
38.250.

On the floor, the Hawkeyes recorded their highest score of the
competition as well as a season high with a 49.125. Snyder and
freshman Clair Kaji led with scores of 9.850 to tie for fourth.

Junior Melissa Zurawski also recorded a 9.850 for fourth place.
Metcalf followed in sixth place with a 9.825, giving the GymHawks a
team score of 49.050.

On the vault, sophomore Rose Piorkowski and Drenth tied for third
place with scores of 9.825, with sophomore Maria Ortiz following at
9.725.

The GymHawks ended their night on beam with a 48.775. Senior Lexi
Mura led Iowa in the event and finished in third at 9.825. Borman came
in with a career-high 9.800 to give her fourth.

The competition was close, and even though the Hawkeyes fell short,
they have to go back in the gym and focus on what’s coming next.

On Saturday, the GymHawks will return to Carver-Hawkeye to take on
No. 21 Illinois and Illinois-Chicago at 4 p.m.