The No. 8-ranked DU Pioneers finished in second behind Big 12 opponent and No. 1-ranked University of Oklahoma on Feb. 3. Denver also competed in a meet against Southern Utah State on Feb. 6, where they also finished in second place.

In the first meet, freshman Maddie Karr (Stillwater, Minnesota) and senior Julia Ross (Henderson, Nevada) placed second (39.400) and third (39.350), respectively, in the all-around. Karr took third overall on the floor, as well.

Denver collectively finished in second with a score of 194.500, placing behind only Oklahoma, who finished first with a final score of 197.675.

On the bars, Ross had a team-high score of 9.850. Karr was not far off, finishing with a 9.825. Sophomore Diana Chesnok (Charlotte, North Carolina) made her season debut since sustaining an injury and recorded a 9.775.

The Pioneers totalled a 49.125 on the beam, registering as the second-best team performance thus far of the 2017 season. Four scores were higher than 9.800, including two 9.825 marks earned from freshman Courtney Loper (West Des Moines, Iowa) and sophomore Kaitlyn Schou (Orlando, Florida).

Ross led the scores on the vault, recording a 9.875, matching her season-high. Karr received a 9.825.

In Denver’s second meet of the week, the team would lose to Southern Utah by a score of 196.500 to 196.700.

DU was led on the vault by Karr, who improved her score to 9.875 in the team’s Monday night meet. She would also participate in the bars, beam and floor, finishing with an all-around score of 39.425.

Schou helped the squad with a team-leading 9.850 on the beam, but it was not enough to outpace the visitors. Denver would fall in the event, 49.125 to 49.300.

The Pioneers return to Hamilton Gymnasium on Sunday, Feb. 11 against Boise State University.