FLORENCE, SC – Belmont Abbey College defeated Francis Marion University Acrobatics & Tumbling 237.085-224.370 in Conference Carolinas league action on Friday (Feb. 21) evening.

The Patriots (0-3) will travel to Gaffney, SC to compete against Limestone University at 6 p.m. on Tuesday (Feb. 25) evening.

This score is now the program's highest scoring meet since the inaugural season of 2024.

Senior base Mikayla Brown, sophomore tumbler Hailey Gaither, sophomore base Alyssa-Naomi Pippins, freshman top Melody Hawkins, sophomore base Jaliyah Douglas, senior base Madison Dykes, junior top Alexandria Mitchell, and freshman bases Mia Limberiou and Madison Hankinson completed the Acro heat of the Compulsory event to score 8.150 points out of 10 points. 

The Pyramid and Toss heats scored a combined 18.850 points while the Tumbling heat scored 8.850 out of 10 points.

The Crusaders (3-1) accumulated 33.800 points during the Compulsory event and trailed the Patriots by .500 points before beginning the Acro event. The Patriots also secured their first event victory after beating Belmont Abbey 33.850-33.800 in Compulsory.

Gaither, Mitchell, Pippins, Douglas, Nelson, Carr, sophomore base Keirstyn Rogers, freshman top Hallie Whitlock, freshman base Ka'Laiya Martin, and freshman base Chloe Myers competed during heat one (5 Element) and heat two (6 Element) to tally 16.100 points. 

With a start value of 9.55, Francis Marion scored 6.25 points in heat three (7 Element) while Belmont Abbey recorded a 9.700 out of 10 points. 

The Patriots scored a total of 23.500 during the three Pyramid heats, trailing the Crusaders 85.200-79.750 before entering halftime. 

In heat three (Open toss), Carr, Hankinson, Rogers, Gaither, Pippins, and freshman top Nikita Yessen listed 8.450 points. The Patriots posted 24.500 throughout the Toss event as the Crusaders continued to lead with a running total of 111.450-104.250.

In the duo tumbling pass, Gaither and Hines scored a 7.850 out of 8.75 points while Nelson, Pippins, and Carr recorded 6.450 points during the trio tumbling pass. With a combined start value of 33.800, the quad, aerial, six element, and open tumbling passes scored a cumulative total points of 30.700.

Belmont Abbey scored a total of 49.025 points in the Tumbling event and led Francis Marion 160.475-149.250 before Team event.

Out of a possible 92.520 points, the Patriots scored 75.120 during Team event to finish the meet.