SACRAMENTO, Calif. — The Sacramento State gymnastics team scored a season high and withstood a late charge from Eastern Michigan to record a 195.225-194.175 victory on Sunday afternoon at The Nest.
 
The Hornets led by .350 points heading into the final rotation and needed nearly every point of  its 48.750 on floor to claim the victory. EMU saw its final three gymnasts score 9.900, 9.850 and 9.850 to momentarily take a one-tenth lead. That advantage, however, did not last long as Sarah Lutrel ended the meet with a 9.725 on floor to move Sacramento State on top.
 
The total team score was the best of the season, surpassing the 195.150 set at Alaska Anchorage on Feb. 21 and marked the second time the Hornets surpassed 195 points this year.
 
Sacramento State trailed after the first rotation, tallying a 48.750 on vault compared to a 48.850 on bars for Eastern Michigan. The Hornets were led by Emma Morgenthaler who scored a season-high 9.800 to claim second place. Grace Gilman and Rylin Zimmerman tied for third at 9.750.
 
The Hornets moved on top at the midway point of the meet, gaining three-and-a-half-tenths on bars with a 48.825 while the Eagles scored 49.475 on vault. Hannah Sitzman led off on the event and finished first with a 9.825 for her fifth win this season. Kara Houghton tied for second at 9.800 and Morgenthaler was fifth behind a 9.775.
 
The third rotation saw Sacramento State count five scores between 9.725 and 9.875 for a total of 48.900. However, the team only gained one-tenth after a strong showing on floor from EMU. Lutrel matched her season high on beam and tied for first place overall. Athena Jones and Gilman ranked second among Hornets with each scoring 9.775 to tie for sixth place.
 
The team would have had all six of its gymnasts score 9.725 or better on floor if not for a pair of out of bounds neutral deductions. Those errors kept Eastern Michigan in the meet and the team responded with a 9.875 from Alana Fisher to tie Lutrel for first place and 9.850 from Raisa Boris and Ella Chemotti who tied for third at 9.850. Sacramento State's floor contingent was guided by a 9.825 from Emma Morgenthaler who placed second. Morgenthaler also recorded a win in the all-around with a four-event total of 39.125 which was just shy of her season-best by .025 points. Morgenthaler has now surpassed 39 points in a career-best five consecutive meets.
 
The Hornets will close the regular season next Friday against UC Davis at 7 p.m. in The Nest. The team will then head to Alaska Anchorage for the MPSF Championships on Mar. 23.
 
TEAM RESULTS
1. Sacramento State 195.225
2. Eastern Michigan 195.175
 
VAULT
1. Alana Fisher, EMU, 9.850; 2. Emma Morgenthaler 9.800; T3. Grace Gilman, Rylin Zimmerman 9.750; T5. Kaitlyn Driessen, Sarah Lutrel 9.725; 10. Lexi Frank 9.625.
 
BARS
1. Hannah Sitzman, SAC, 9.825; T2. Kara Houghton 9.800; T5. Emma Morgenthaler 9.775; T8. Athena Jones 9.725; 10. Sarah Lutrel 9.70; 11. Chloe Cohen 9.675.
 
BEAM
T1. Sarah Lutrel, SAC; Alana Fisher, EMU, 9.875; T6. Athena Jones, Grace Gilman 9.775; 8. Kaitlyn Driessen 9.750; 9. Emma Morgenthaler 9.725; 19. Kara Houghton 9.675.
 
FLOOR
1. Abby Brushwood, EMU, 9.875; 2. Emma Morgenthaler 9.825; 4. Simone Dumas-Guzman 9.775; T5. Kara Houghton 9.750; 7. Sarah Lutrel 9.725; T9. Athena Jones 9.675; 12. Grace Gilman 9.650.
 
ALL-AROUND
1. Emma Morgenthaler, SAC, 39.125; 3. Sarah Lutrel 39.025.