In gymnastics, confidence can be the difference between near-perfect routines and disastrous falls.

Last Friday, the ISU women’s gymnastics team experienced both ends of that spectrum in a 195.825-193.750 loss to national powerhouse Alabama.

After hesitancy and nerves resulted in three major falls from the uneven bars and a mediocre performance on vault, the Cyclones regained composure to post six season-high scores on floor exercise and sweep the balance beam competition.

“I’m proud of the way the team got themselves back together for the second half of the competition, but if we are going to successfully compete against teams of this caliber in the future, we need to work on our confidence level,” head coach K.J. Kindler said.

The Cyclones fell behind in the first rotation when sophomore Ashley Alden and redshirt freshman Jade Kvach fell during their release moves and junior Erin Dethloff missed her difficult full-in-back-out straight dismount. The troubles continued on vault, where steps to the side and balance checks on landings corroded the Cyclones’ scores below their usual mark.

“Unfortunately, we didn’t even come close to our potential on bars,” Kindler said. “However, floor and beam were the best I’ve seen in a long time.”

Sophomore Janet Anson said she and her teammates gathered their composure for the final two rotations by treating the meet more like a team practice than a competition.

On floor, the Cyclones’ six individual season-high marks improved the team’s season mark in the event by nearly sixth 10ths. Iowa State’s floor performance cut Alabama’s lead in half heading into the final rotations, where the Cyclones took control of the beam.

Alden neared her career-high mark on beam (9.85), posting a 9.825 to win the event. Anson placed second (9.775), and junior Laura-Kay Powell finished in third (9.75). The trio led the Cyclones to a 48.725-48.450 team victory in the event.

Individually, Anson finished second in the all-around competition (49.175).

The Cyclones move to 1-1 on the season and travel to Minneapolis on Friday to take on No. 19 Minnesota.