DENTON, Texas (April 14, 2018) - Back-to-back is back. Texas Woman's University secured the program's 11^th USA Gymnastics Collegiate National Title while defending the 2017 trophy by registering the highest score ever seen at the championship and shattering the program record with an astonishing 196.525 team score Saturday evening inside Kitty Magee Arena.
 
TWU's score bested the 196.500 acquired by Bridgeport at the 2013 championships, and the Pioneers updated their own record books by improving on the 196.125 set during on the same occasion in 2017 at Seattle Pacific where they secured their 10^th national championship. The consecutive titles by TWU are the first since the team acquired four straight from 1993-1996.
 
The night felt destined as each Pioneer competed with confidence and nearly every landing was stuck and not one mishap occurred. Eight individual career-marks were either set or tied, and the team also achieved a program-high 49.200 on vault.
 
"Everything about tonight was absolutely incredible," expressed Head Coach Lisa Bowerman. "There are no words to describe what this championship means to us. This team has something truly special, and they left it all out on the floor tonight."
 
The second-seeded Pioneers competed against No. 1 seed Lindenwood, fifth-seed Air Force, and No. 6 Cornell. TWU posted over a 49.000 on each event to hold the lead throughout the entire competition, while Lindenwood and Air Force each earned the only other two scores at a 49.000 or better on the evening.
 
The crowd of 1,273 was also record-setting, as the attendance was the largest-ever in Kitty Magee Arena since a home quad meet in 2012. The Pioneer supporters saw their team begin the competition on beam with Hunter Vincent (9.800) and Alyssa Kelly (9.875) each matching their career-highs.
 
Schyler Jones continued her dominance at the championships with a career-tying 9.925 on floor to go along with a 9.825 on beam, a 9.900 on vault, and a 9.775 on bars for an all-around score of 39.425.
 
On vault, Hope Parkin posted a new career-mark (9.775), while Megan Gentry (9.850) and Mallory Moredock (9.875) both tied their best scores as Pioneers to guide the team to the new program team-high.
 
Hunter Vincent tied another career-best on bars with a 9.825, and Bria Northrop swung to a career-high 9.900 to seal the title victory for TWU.
 
"We are unbelievably thankful for the support of TWU, the Denton community, and our fans," stated Bowerman. "We could not have done it without all of them behind us, so we simply want to thank you."
 
The Pioneers, along with the other 12 teams invited to the championships, will compete in the individual finals Sunday at 1 p.m. For TWU, all-around champion Jones is listed to perform on all four events. Moredock is slated for vault and floor, with Kelly and Erin Alderman on beam, and Northrop on bars.
 
Thirteen TWU All-American honors were attained during Friday's team semifinals. Jones earned five First Team accolades as she totaled the highest scores during the semis on all-around, vault, bars and beam, and finished behind Moredock on floor. Moredock made First Team on floor and vault, while Northrop was represented on bars. Kelly and Alderman rounded out TWU on beam's First Team.
 
Gentry grossed a pair of Second Team All-American achievements on vault and floor, and Brandi Lazarus was recognized on vault.