The Lindenwood gymnastics team captured its second straight USA Gymnastics Women's Collegiate National Championship on Saturday night. The Lady Lions set a school record as they won in front of a large home crowd at Hyland Arena.

Lindenwood's record-breaking score was a 195.875, breaking the old record of 195.800. It needed every bit of the new record, as it just edged out Bridgeport after it scored a 195.800. Seattle Pacific was third with a 194.875, and Brown was fourth with a 194.500. The Lady Lions score was the second-highest in the history of the USA Gymnastics Women's Collegiate National Championship.

"The championship capped off an incredible end to the season," said head coach Jen Kesler. "We had to fight through adversity all year but everyone came together tonight and it was a total team effort to win the title."

The national championship event was tight throughout, as all four teams were within 0.325 of each other halfway through the competition. Lindenwood moved into first place on the third rotation, but led Bridgeport by just 0.05, and the Purple Knights were going into their strongest rotation, the floor, in the final set.

Lindenwood put the pressure on Bridgeport though by scoring a 49.175 on the vault, its second-best score in program history. After a solid start by Trystien Charles and Samantha Borges, Aubree Horn went third and scored a 9.850. Kayla McMullan followed with a 9.875, and Valeri Ingui set the second-best mark in program history with a 9.900. Rachel Zabawa closed out the rotation, scoring a 9.775, improving the team's score by 0.200, which ended up being crucial.

While the Lady Lions watched, Bridgeport, was putting up big numbers on the floor, including three scores of 9.900 or higher. The Purple Knights other marks were a 9.750 or lower, and Lindenwood had clinched the title with two gymnasts remaining.

Lindenwood had a good start on the night with a 48.675 on the bars and a 48.875 on the beam. Horn led Lindenwood on the bars with a 9.825, and Alicia Floyd scored a 9.900 on the beam. Both of those marks were the highest scores on the night in those routines. Also on the beam, Ingui scored a 9.850.

The Lady Lions then cracked the 49 mark on the floor with a 49.150. The final three gymnasts led that charge as McMullan had a 9.900, Andaevea Alexander had a 9.875, and Zabawa scored a 9.850. Those marks helped Lindenwood go ahead for good.

The meet was the final team one for eight members of the inaugural Lindenwood team in 2013. That class, which includes Lauren Cartmell, Charles, Floyd, Daniela Fumagalli, Courtney Heise, Katie Kuehl, Ingui, and Zabawa, leaves one of the top legacies in Lindenwood athletics. After starting the program in 2013, it has now won two straight conference and USA Gymnastics Women's Collegiate National Championships.

"The senior class is an incredible group of women," said Kesler. "They have perserved and paved the way for the Lindenwood gymnastics program. Four years ago, they took a chance on Lindenwood and tonight was the perfect way for them to go out."

The gymnastics team will end the season Sunday afternoon at 1 p.m. at the USA Gymnastics Women's Collegiate Individual Finals. Ingui, Horn, and Zabawa will compete in the vault, Zabawa and Cartmell will be in action in the beam, and Alexander, McMullan, and Zabawa on the floor.