The ISU gymnastics team is still searching for its first win of the season, and almost got it Saturday night.

The No. 21 Cyclones fell Saturday to Minnesota, 193.775-193.625, in the Sports Pavilion at the University of Minnesota, but achieved their highest score of the young season in the loss.

“Well, I wish we could say we won, but it was a really close meet,” said head coach Jay Ronayne.

There were two major bright spots during the night: Junior Jasmine Thompson and sophomore Nikki Dilbert each had their best all-around scores in their Iowa State careers.

Thompson won the all-around title with a score of 39.125. She also tied for first in the floor exercise with a score of 9.825.

“I think I went in confident and I did my job,” Thompson said.

Thompson’s title was the first individual all-around event victory this season that a Cyclone won, but it still couldn’t help manufacture a team win.

“It’s real frustrating. We made a lot of improvements, but it’s frustrating,” Thompson said.

With her 39.000, Dilbert won third place in the all-around competition.

Dilbert said she was very pleased with her night, especially because she was in her home state and had many friends and family in the stands. Dilbert is from the north Minneapolis suburb of Champlin, just half an hour from the Minnesota campus.

The Cyclones started off fast with a 48.750 on the bars. Thompson and junior Ceilia Maccani led the way, each posting a 9.775. After the first rotation, the Cyclones led, 48.750-48.075.

Iowa State added on to its lead after the second rotation. The Cyclones posted a 48.400 on the vault, while Minnesota couldn’t match Iowa State’s score on the bars. Halfway through the meet, Iowa State was ahead, 97.150-96.300.

The Cyclones gave up the lead in the third rotation with a poor floor exercise. The Cyclones’ 47.850 and the Gophers’ strong performance on the beams ended up costing the Cyclones the meet.

Iowa State headed into the final rotation trailing 145.150-145.000.

Both teams posted the same score, 48.625, in the final rotation, giving the Gophers the win. Thompson again led the way for the Cyclones with a 9.825 on the beam.

Minnesota held onto the lead and won the meet, 193.775-193.625.

“We just need to get into the gym and work out some little things,” Dilbert said.

The loss dropped Iowa State to 0-3 for the season, but the Cyclones did post their highest score of the season against Minnesota.

The Cyclones now have two weeks off until No. 9 Stanford rolls into Ames.

“We need to heal up. We’re not injured, but we have sprains here and there. We need to go get some work in and get some rest,” Ronayne said.