DAVIS, Calif. — The Sacramento State gymnastics team produced its highest opening meet score in seven years but finished second to UC Davis on Sunday afternoon at the University Credit Union Center. The Hornets totaled 193.125 which was the sixth best season opening score in school history and the highest since 2017. The Aggies finished the meet with a four-event total of 194.875.

Sacramento State started the meet on bars in the first rotation and scored 48.125. Sophomore Kara Houghton and freshman Jillianne Lastra tied for the team lead with each scoring 9.700 in the final two routines for team. Bella Lahmidi and Sarah Lutrel were close behind the pair, scoring 9.650 and 9.600, respectively.

The team followed with a 48.750 on vault which ranks as the third-highest season-opening team score in the event and the best since 2017.  Sacramento State was extremely consistent during the rotation as the team counted five scores between 9.775 and 9.700. Freshman Rose Wilson and sophomores Rylin Zimmerman and Lutrel each tied for the team high with 9.775s.

UC Davis opened on vault with a 48.575 and added a 48.500 on bars. Those scores gave the Aggies a narrow 97.075-96.875 lead at the midway point of the meet.

The Hornets flipped the leaderboard during the third rotation, totaling 48.825 on floor compared to a 48.575 on beam from the Aggies to put Sacramento State on top by a half-tenth of a point. The Hornet score ranked second in a season opener in program history and was the best to start a year since a 48.975 at the NorCal Classic in San Jose, Calif., on Jan. 10. 2016.

That lead did not last long as UC Davis posted an impressive team score of 49.225 on floor in the final rotation and picked up nearly two points on the Hornets who scored 47.425 on beam. Sacramento State's time on beam was highlighted by a 9.725 from Kara Houghton and a 9.700 from Emma Morgenthaler to place tied for third and fifth, respectively.

The Hornets will welcome San Jose State on Sunday, Jan. 14, in the home opener for Sacramento State. The meet will start at 2 p.m. and will also be Kids Day where all children 12 and under will be admitted free.

TEAM RESULTS
1. UC Davis 194.875
2. Sacramento State 193.125

VAULT
1. Emma Otsu, Keanna Abraham, UCD, 9.825; T3. Rose Wilson, Rylin Zimmerman, Sarah Lutrel 9.775; T6. Grace Gilman 9.725; 8. Emma Morgenthaler 9.700; 12. Simone Dumas-Guzman 8.850.

BARS
1. Amelia Moneymaker, UCD, 9.875; T4. Jillianne Lastra, Kara Houghton 9.700; 6. Bella Lahmidi 9.650; 7. Sarah Lutrel 9.600;  9. Emma Morgenthaler 9.475; 10. Sarah Fitzgerald 8.400.

BEAM
1. Emma Otsu, UCD, 9.825; T3. Kara Houghton 9.725; 5. Emma Morgenthaler 9.700; T6. Rylin Zimmerman 9.650; 9. Sarah Lutrel 9.250; 10. Athena Jones 9.100; 12. Grace Gilman 8.350.

FLOOR
1. Keanna Abraham, UCD, 9.900; T4. Emma Morgenthaler 9.800; T6. Simone Dumas-Guzman 9.775; T8. Rylin Zimmerman, Athena Jones; Sarah Lutrel 9.750; T11. Grace Gilman 9.725

ALL-AROUND
1. Amelia Moneymaker, UCD, 39.225; 3. Emma Morgenthaler 38.675.