BALTIMORE, Md. (Feb. 24, 2024)--The Morgan State acrobatics and tumbling team welcomed 15^th-ranked Iona to Hill Field House for a National Collegiate Acrobatics & Tumbling contest on Friday evening.
 
The visiting Gaels would win the battle of first-year programs, 255.690-230.505. Iona improved to 2-0 on the season, while Morgan State fell to 0-2. Despite dropping all six events, the Lady Bears would claim wins in two out of the 20 total heats.
 
Iona earned an opening event win in Compulsory, 36.15-24.85. The win was highlighted by a score of 9.70 in the Pyramid Heat. Morgan State also scored its highest in the Pyramid Heat, recording a score of 9.55.
 
The Gaels defeated Morgan in the second event 27.45-23.65 to win the Acro event. Both teams' top score came in the Five-Element round. The guests tallied 9.50, while Morgan scored 8.65.
 
Morgan State trailed 92.85-8320 at the break following a loss in Pyramid (29.25-24.70). The Lady Bears would win their first heat of the evening and season when they earned a Heat 2 (Synchronized) in the Toss Event. The hosts would score 8.20, while Iona had 8.15. The Gales however, would win the event (25.80-22.90).
 
The Tumbling event would also go to Iona (52.300-51.075). Morgan State would defeat Iona in the Trio Pass (8.150-7.800) behind the performance of freshman Alahni Napier, junior Ayona Young and freshman Kayla Bryant.
 
Iona closed out the meet scoring 84.74 points in the Team event, while Morgan finished with 73.33 points.
 
Morgan State will take to the road for the first time, when it travels to Owings Mills, Md., to take on Stevenson on Saturday, March 9 at 2 p.m.   
 
 
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ABOUT MORGAN
Morgan State University, founded in 1867, is a Carnegie-classified high research (R2) institution offering nearly 140 academic programs leading to degrees from the baccalaureate to the doctorate. As Maryland's Preeminent Public Urban Research University, and the only university to have its entire campus designated as a National Treasure by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, Morgan serves a multiethnic and multiracial student body and seeks to ensure that the doors of higher education are opened as wide as possible to as many as possible. For more information about Morgan State University, visit www.morgan.edu.