MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. – A back-and-forth battle between Western Michigan and Central Michigan gymnastics went in favor of the host Chippewas by a 196.075-194.950 final on Friday night inside McGuirk Arena. The first three rotations featured a CMU lead, a WMU lead and then a tie heading into the final rotation.

The Broncos dropped their first Mid-American Conference meet of the season, dipping to 5-2 in dual meets and 4-1 in MAC competition. The team score was WMU's seventh of the year higher than 194.800.

Individually, junior Morgan Spence finished with her highest all-around score of the year at 38.950 to take second. Junior Alexis Olivier (bars), senior Amelia Mohler (beam) and freshman Josephine Thomas (beam) all had the highest finishes for the Broncos during the meet, tying for second in their respective events.

Western Michigan, which began on the bars, found itself behind 49.150-49.075 after the opening rotation. The score for the Broncos was the sixth-highest in program history and the best since a 49.150 against Ball State on March 10, 2018. Olivier led the way with a 9.875 while junior Stacie Harrison set her season high on the event with 9.825 to tie with Mohler and Central Michigan's Kennedy Rae Johnson for fourth overall. Freshman Charlotte Tishkoff (9.775/T-7th) and Spence (9.750/T-9th) also established their high scores for the season.

The second rotation had Western Michigan move to the vault and take the slim lead at 97.775-97.750 after scoring a 48.700. Thomas finished with the high score for the team with a 9.775 to take fifth. Harrison and Tishkoff were just behind with matching 9.750 performances to tie for sixth.  

Central Michigan answered in the third rotation and the teams finished tied 146.775-146.775. WMU tallied a 49.000 on the floor while the Chippewas finished with a 49.025 on the beam to knot the overall. Sophomore Carissa Ludwig led the way for the Broncos with a 9.825 to tie for fourth while Harrison, Tishkoff and Spence were just off the pace with 9.800 performances, tied for sixth.

The final rotation was on the beam for the Broncos, where they finished with a 48.175. Mohler and Thomas had the top scores on the squad at 9.800, tying for second overall. Freshman Amanda Gruber had the third-highest performance with a 9.725 to place ninth.

In the all-around, Spence's season-high 38.950 was good for second to Central Michigan's Hannah Demers (39.375) while Tishkoff took fourth with a 38.475.

The Broncos return to action Sunday, March 8, at 1 p.m. for Senior Day against Kent State. WMU will honor seniors Taylor Buis and Mohler after the meet.

#WeWillReign