While many ISU students were basking in the sun or cheering for mid-major basketball teams during break, the ISU gymnastics team was pushing itself to new heights.

On Friday, the nationally ranked No. 4 Cyclones (13-3, 4-0 Big 12 duals) crushed the University of Iowa GymHawks (4-12), 197.250-194.225, posting a new season high team score.

On its way to achieving the new high score, Iowa State also earned season highs on three out of four events. The Cyclones posted a 49.225 on uneven parallel bars, a 49.300 on balance beam and a 49.400 on floor exercise.

In addition to being thrilled that the team scored so highly, senior Erin Dethloff was happy about her team’s performance because the meet held a special significance for the team’s seniors.

“It feels really good to do well in what is the last regular season meet for the seniors,” she said.

Dethloff, who earned season high scores of 9.925 on beam, 9.900 on floor exercise and 39.575 in the all-around, was one of seven Cyclones who achieved a total of 11 season high scores.

Even with the high scores, the Cyclones know there’s room to improve. Junior Katie Lasher said she believes the best is yet to come for her team and expects an even better showing at this weekend’s Big 12 Championship.

“I think this meet helped us build our confidence going into Big 12s,” Lasher said. “Even though we didn’t have the best meet we got pretty good scores, but there were a few mistakes here and there that we need to work on.”

Coach K.J. Kindler echoed the sentiments of her team, adding that routines could look cleaner.

“I think it’s great that we got a great season high, but I’m more looking at performance from top to bottom and I would have liked to have seen a little bit more consistency,” she said. “I saw a lot of fight, but at this time I don’t want to see any fight. I want to see smooth sailing.”

Iowa State discovered its sails last week, as well. On Mar. 10, the Cyclones suffered their first dual meet loss of the season to No. 12 Arizona State (11-4) in Tempe, Ariz.

The Sun Devils defeated the Cyclones, 197.775-197.000, attaining the highest single meet team score in the NCAA this season.

“We were a little disappointed that we lost, but we were very happy to have our highest away meet score of the season,” Dethloff said.

Even in losing, Kindler wasn’t disappointed with her team.

“I wasn’t disappointed because I felt they put in a good performance for us,” she said. “I do think that you learn more from losing than you do from winning.”

With the team achieving so many high scores lately, Dethloff said the team is confident it is peaking at the right time.

Looking back at its season against Big 12 opponents, Iowa State has plenty to be confident about. Iowa State was a perfect 4-0 against conference opponents in dual meets this season for the first time in Cyclone history.

Kindler believes that the past week was filled with good experiences for her gymnasts.

“We haven’t gone 24-for-24 yet this year and that’s something we’re going to want to do if we want to walk away with the Big 12 trophy,” Kindler said.

Iowa State travels to Lincoln, Neb., on Saturday for the Big 12 Gymnastics Championship. The action starts at 7 p.m. at the Bob Devaney Sports Center.