TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Junior Payton Murphy scored a 9.875 on both vault and beam on Friday night, but the No. 17 Western Michigan gymnastics team suffered setbacks to No. 9 Alabama (197.975) and No. 25 North Carolina (195.325), after finishing with a team score of 194.875.
 
Murphy totaled a team-best all-around score of 39.350. She scored a 9.750 on bars and a 9.850 on the floor. She had the second-highest all-around score in the meet, behind only Alabama's Luisa Blanco, who totaled a 39.675.
 
After a slow start on bars and beam for the Broncos (5-2), the team responded with stellar performances on the vault (48.825) and floor (49.00).
 
Freshman Halle Faulkner registered a 38.975 all-around score, while sophomore Sarah Moravansky finished with a 38.875. Freshman Cassie St. Clair delivered a 9.800 on the floor exercise.
 
Looking ahead, Western Michigan is at Central Michigan for a dual meet on Friday, Feb. 11 at 7 p.m.