The Iowa State gymnastics team lost on the road against Oklahoma with a final score of 198.225 to 195.875 on Friday. 

The Cyclones had a tough matchup to start their double meet weekend, with a Friday night showdown against the number one ranked Sooners in Norman, Oklahoma. While the Cyclones would have a great night all around, with a season-high final score, it wasn’t enough to upset a great squad on the road. This will continue the 17-year losing streak for the Cyclones against the Sooners.

Here are the three takeaways from what should be considered a moral victory for the Cyclones.

Cyclones improve on bars

After struggling on bars all season, the Cyclones posted their best score this season with 49.125. Natalie Horowitz had a great performance to start her night, with a season-high 9.825 on bars, after falling on bars last weekend in West Virginia. Horowitz stuck the landing with emotions raving from her face knowing she had redeemed herself.

The rest of the Cyclones all scored 9.525 or better, with stand-out performances from Laura Cooke, who scored 9.875, and Lauren Thomas who scored 9.850. The Cyclones would start the night .400 behind the Sooners but would end bars with a moral victory after starting off slow last weekend. 

Success continues on floor

The Cyclones have scored well on floor all season long, which continues tonight after posting a 48.975. Maddie Diab would post the best score for the Cyclones with 9.850. While not her best score of the season so far, she narrowed the lead from the Sooners going into the final rotation. 

Kelsey Boychuk started the floor performances off with an electric 9.825 performance, her season high. While they wouldn’t post their season-high as they did in the two events prior, the Cyclones kept rolling and inched towards Oklahoma’s lead. The Cyclones would trail the Sooners by 1.775 heading into their final performance on beam, needing some mistakes from Oklahoma to take the win. 

Beam performances aren’t enough for the win

A 48.850 would not be enough on the beam to take the win away from the Sooners. Hannah Loyim scored the highest on beam for the Cyclones, with a 9.825. While not the Cyclone’s strongest performance on beam this season, they needed almost perfection going into it, which didn’t help.

Other standout performances on beam would come from Boychuk, scoring a 9.800, and Horowitz who finished her night with a 9.775. Loganne Basuel would post the lowest score of the night from the Cyclones with a 9.250.

The Cyclones have a quick turnaround and will compete against Texas Women’s University and New Hampshire in Denton, Texas, on Sunday afternoon.