The Lindenwood gymnastics team survived a slow start on Friday afternoon in Denton, Texas, to advance to the team finals of the 2018 USA Gymnastics Women's Collegiate National Championships. The Lady Lions tied for first in the first semifinal session with a team score of 194.950.
 
Lindenwood had to count a fall in its first rotation on the bars, and it fell to last place. The Lady Lions started down the comeback trail with a strong beam performance, and then jumped into first with one of the best floor routines in program history. Lindenwood scored a 49.400 in that event, led by three gymnasts scoring a 9.900.
 
The Lady Lions had a small lead heading into the final rotation, and needed almost of it after having just one vault score above 9.750. Its final score tied Air Force for first place, and Lindenwood was just 0.100 ahead of Bridgeport. Penn finished fourth with a team score of 193.925, over a point back of the two leaders.
 
One of the top highlights of the day was the performance of Kyndall Baze on the floor. The freshman competed on the floor just five times this season, and hasn't competed on it since February. Baze scored a 9.900 though, 0.150 better than her previous season-high.
 
That performance, which followed a 9.875 by Breanna Franklin, sparked a run of three straight 9.900 scores, with Kayla McMullan and Andy Alexander also receiving that mark. Aleah Leman, a last minute addition to the lineup, then scored a 9.825, tying her career-high, to conclude the second-highest floor team score in program history.
 
Sokolowski led Lindenwood overall with three scores of 9.825 or higher. She tied her school record on the beam with a 9.950, which was first overall in this session. She also won the vault title with a 9.825, and finished sixth on the bars with a 9.825.
 
Baze, McMullan, and Alexander tied for first overall on the floor. Breanna Franklin was also in the top-four with her mark in that event. Baze was seventh on the vault with a mark of 9.725, and Franklin finished eighth on the beam with a 9.800 score. Alexander also had a 9.800 mark on the bars to round out some of the top performances for the Lady Lions.
 
Lindenwood advances to the team finals for the fourth straight season. That event will take place on Saturday at 7 p.m., and the Lady Lions will be joined by Air Force, Texas Woman's, and Cornell. Lindenwood will be going for its third national title over the last four seasons.