What a difference a week makes.

On Feb. 16, the ISU gymnastics team earned a season-low 194.425 in a home loss to Oklahoma that featured a number of mishaps and falls on floor exercise and balance beam.

Fast forward to Sunday, when the 10th-ranked Cyclones (9-3) traveled across icy roads to Champaign, Ill., to compete against then-No. 24 Illinois and Northern Illinois.

After a week of practices, which ISU coach Jay Ronayne said were the best of the season, the Cyclones won in impressive fashion behind a season-high score of 196.425.

No. 23 Illinois (4-5) took second with a 195.875 and Northern Illinois (4-5) rounded out the group with a 191.225.

“We’re excited to put up the biggest score of the year so far,” Ronayne said. “We did the routines that we thought that we had been able to do all season. We still have a lot of room for improvement though, which is exciting for the next few weeks.”

Iowa State also achieved season-highs on uneven bars (49.375) and vault (49.350). Led by senior Katie Lasher’s career-high 9.925, the Cyclones didn’t count a score lower than 9.850 on bars, with each performer either tying or setting season highs.

“I did the same routine I’ve been doing in practicing and I didn’t really change anything,” Lasher said. “I just hit everything I’ve been working on in practice and got a big score.”

Lasher, who tied for first place on uneven bars, was also one of four Cyclones who achieved season-highs on vault. Senior Janet Anson, who won her 15th career all-around title, took first place honors on vault (9.950) and floor exercise (9.925).

“They were very good routines, the best we’ve done all year,” Ronayne said in regard to the uneven bars and the vault.

Anson said she was thrilled with her team’s overall performance against the two Illinois teams.

“Everybody looked very comfortable and we had a lot of fun,” Anson said. “We did what we normally do in the gym.”

Rounding out Iowa State’s scores were a 49.025 on floor exercise, much improved from Feb. 16’s season-low 48.000, and a 48.675 on balance beam.