FLORENCE, SC – Francis Marion University's acrobatics and tumbling team came up short against Converse University on Friday (March 29) evening, falling by a score of 245.175-183.460.
 
Beginning the meet in the acro portion of compulsory event, junior base Mikayla Brown; freshman base Jaliyah Douglas; freshman tumblers Hailey Gaither, Alyssa Durrans, and Priscilla Vega; and the lone senior base Arianna Williams were the first Patriots to take the mats.
 
With a 10.00 start value, Francis Marion recorded a 5.95, while Converse followed with an 8.65 out of 10.00.
 
Francis Marion listed additional scores of 8.80 during the pyramid heat and a 7.85 during the toss heat. During the tumbling heat, Vega, Gaither, Blanda, and Durrans earned a 4.10 tally.
 
After finishing all four heats (acro, pyramid, toss, and tumbling) of the compulsory event, the Valkyries led Francis Marion 35.450-26.700.
 
FMU earned a 7.95 in heat three (5 element) with Durrans, Pippins, and Gaither; the highest score recorded by the Patriots during the acro event. In heat two (6 element) and three (7 element), Francis Marion listed a 5.85 and 4.55. 
 
Durrans, Brown, junior base Madison Dykes, Gaither, Pippins, Vega, Williams, junior base AJ Lunn, Douglas, Rowell all competed in the second heat of the pyramid event, performing a straddle hold. Scoring an 8.250 out of 9.50 start value, Francis Marion continued to close the gap on Converse (4-5, 4-4).
 
The Patriots finalized all three pyramid heats with a cumulative score of 25.450, compared to Converse's 28.800 just before entering halftime.  The Valkyries led 86.45-70.50 at the break.
 
Francis Marion tallied an 8.00 out of 8.80 as Brown, Douglas, Vega, Gaither, Durrans and Williams took part in the 450 Salto toss. In heat two, the Patriots scored 4.950 points, while registering 6.650 points in heat three.
 
Blanda, competing in the aerial tumbling pass, registered a score of 7.675 with an 8.50 start value. Following the six-element tumbling pass, Vega executed the open tumbling pass to earn a score of 8.750 out of 9.70.  Converse posted a score of 50.625 in the tumbling competition, while FMU registered 39.750.
 
Converse totaled 83.550 points during their team event. Francis Marion, beginning with a start value of 81.21 scored 53.610 points.
 
Williams was honored during the meet as the only senior as the Patriots completed their inaugural season.