GREENWOOD, SC – The Francis Marion University acrobatics and tumbling team fell 247.270-202.705 to Lander University on Monday (Mar. 11) in the final away meet of the 2024 season.
 
Francis Marion will host Saint Leo University on Thursday (Mar. 14) at 6 p.m. in the Smith University Center.  Admission is free.
 
In the first two heats of the compulsory event, Francis Marion scored a total of 15.65 points compared to Lander's 17.45 points.
 
Sophomore top Alexandria Mitchell, freshman top Alyssa Durrans, freshman base Jaliyah Douglas, junior base Mikayla Brown, freshman top Kaylee Rowell, junior base Trinity (AJ) Lunn, sophomore base Emma Barnes, and freshman tumblers Priscilla Vega, Olivia Blanda, Hailey Gaither, and Alyssa-Naomi Pippins all competed in the second heat (toss) of the compulsory event, scoring an 8.60 with a 10.00 start value.
Brown, Durrans, Emma Barnes, Jaliyah Douglas, Kaylee Rowell, senior base Arianna Williams, and Vega performed in heat two of the acro event (6 element synch), scoring a 7.15 with an 8.20 start value.
 
Lander (4-3) registered 9.50 points in heat one (5 element), 9.25 points in heat two, and 9.60 in heat three (7 element). The Patriots trailed the Bearcats 62.75-51.05.
 
FMU totaled 25.80 points during the three pyramid heats as the Bearcats led 89.60-76.85 at halftime.
 
Brown, Douglas, Vega, Pippins, Durrans, and Gaither all executed a back-tuck toss in heat one (450 salto) of the toss event. With a start value of 9.0, Francis Marion scored 8.50 points. The Patriots finished the toss event with a final event score of 23.40.
 
Durrans and Mitchell scored 6.75 out of 7.50 points in the first (duo) heat of the tumbling event. Following, the trio and quad pass scored an additional 9.70 points.
 
The individual tumbling passes performed by Gaither (aerial), Blanda (6 element), and Vega (open) scored a total of 24.525, bringing the Patriot's running total to 141.225 before entering the team event.
 
Francis Marion completed its team event with a 61.48 out of 85.78 points, while Lander recorded 81.62 points from team event.