Seawolves score another season-high at William & Mary

Williamsburg, Virginia (March 14) - Boosted by individual victories from freshman Tessa Richardson and junior Claudia Lessig, the UAA gymnastics team earned a second consecutive season-high score Saturday, posting a 192.675 total in a dual-meet loss to William and Mary at Kaplan Arena.

Richardson won vault with a UAA season-best 9.8, while Lessig earned the win on beam for the second time in a row, tallying 9.85.

William & Mary took the team title with a 194.650 score.

"It's great to see the consistent improvements from practice translating to the competition floor," said UAA head coach Marie-Sophie Boggasch, whose team improved on its previous season-best 192.275 from Thursday. "It was another day full of season- and career-highs, boosted by two stuck vaults for the first time this season."

After scoring a season-best 48.800 on uneven bars two days ago, UAA nearly reprised that effort with a 48.400 apparatus score in the rematch. Lessig, junior Jada Niles and senior Madelyn Gomez tied for third on the podium with 9.7s, while Richardson and redshirt freshman Kacey Pratley earned 9.65s. It was the first successful competition of Pratley's career as the Englishwoman returned from a long-term injury to make her collegiate debut this week.

Richardson continued her recent success on vault to help UAA earn a season-best 48.375 on that event, tying the 20th-best vault total in program history. Junior Jamilia Duffus made the podium with a career-high 9.75, followed by sophomore Maribelle Albert (9.675), sophomore Verena Wong (9.65) and Lessig (9.5).

After tying the second-best beam routine by a Seawolf with a 9.9 on Thursday, Lessig tied the 17th-best effort with her 9.85 to lead a 48.100 team total Saturday. It was the fourth career score of 9.85 or better on beam for the Spring, Texas, native. Freshman Alexandra Karkowski added a 9.725, and Niles a 9.6.

Senior Ariana DeSouza led the way again on floor exercise at 9.775, along with junior Maria Jose Prieto (career-high 9.7) and sophomore Jordan Grindol (9.6).

UAA's team total matched the 23rd-best effort in program history as well.

The Seawolves return to the road this week for the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation Championship meet on Saturday, Mar. 21 in Cedar City, Utah. Find live links at GoSeawolves.com.