FLORENCE, SC – Francis Marion University's acrobatics and tumbling team was defeated 242.395-215.825 by Morgan State University on Wednesday (March 15) night.
Francis Marion will host Newberry College on Senior Day for the final home meet of the 2025 season, Sunday (Mar. 23) at 6 p.m.
Event 1 – Compulsory
Francis Marion tallied its best scores during the Pyramid and Toss heats with scores of 9.45 and 9.55. The Patriots scored a running total of 32.75 points in comparison to Morgan State's 32.55 points.
Event 2 – Acro
The three heats of Acro (5 element, 6 element, and 7 element) tallied 20.80 out of a possible 28.25 to give Francis Marion a cumulative total of 53.550. Sophomore base
Hailey Gaither, junior top
Alexandria Mitchell, sophomore base
Alyssa-Naomi Pippins, and freshman base
Mia Trotta all competed for heat one (5 element).
The Bears took the lead by a score of 57.850-53.550 after finishing Acro.
Event 3 – Pyramid
Francis Marion posted a total of 27.00 out of 29.40 during Pyramid. In Heat one (inversion) the Patriots totaling 9.20 out of 9.80 points, while in Heat two and three they scored an additional 15.100.
Morgan State opened the margin to 84.250-80.550 going into halftime.
Event 4 – Toss
Freshman top
Melody Hawkins, senior base
Mikayla Brown, sophomore base Jaliyah Doulgas, freshman base
JaLin Nelson, Pippins, and freshman base Madison Hankinson all completed in heat one (450 Salto) and recorded the best score for FMU as the Patriots earned an 8.05 out of a possible 9.10. Heat two (Synchronized) and heat three (Open) combined for an additional 23.150 points.
MSU continued to widen the gap and accumulated 24.90 points during toss to take a 109.150-103.700 advantage.
Event 5 – Tumbling
In the individual passes during tumbling, freshman tumbler
Jordyn Hines' pass scored 8.450 out of a possible 8.750, while Gaither's Aerial pass listed 8.325 out of a possible 8.700. The Patriots scored 27.600 in the remaining passes to total 44.375 during tumbling.
The Bears widened the lead to 163.325-148.075 as both teams went into the final event.
Event 6 – Team Event
Out of a possible 92.650, Francis Marion scored 67.750 for a meet total of 215.825.
The Bears scored 79.070 points to finish at 242.395.
