RALEIGH, N.C. – In a showdown between the teams expected to finish at the top of the conference standings, the Towson University women's gymnastics team posted a season-best 194.975, but fell in a dual meet against No. 21 N.C. State as the Wolfpack scored 195.600 points.

The Tigers (4-1, 1-1 EAGL) put up their highest point total in the month of January since rejoining the East Atlantic Gymnastic League in 2013. Towson won both vault (48.800) and bars (48.975), aided by a sweep on vault as Jenna Weitz, Camille Vitoff and Lauren Bolen all scored 9.775s.

N.C. State, which was first in the EAGL Preseason Coaches Poll, won the final two events with a 49.200 on beam and 48.900 on floor. The Wolfpack swept the beam with scores of 9.900, 9.875 and 9.825. There was a three-way tie for fourth at 9.800 that included Towson's Vitoff. N.C. State had first and third on the floor, bookending Towson's Amy Stewart, who scored a 9.850.

How it Happened

• The Tigers opened the afternoon at Reynolds Coliseum on bars, led by Clara Hong and Grace Vaillancourt, who each scored a 9.850. Both Tigers scored a season-best in the event. Amanda Pedicelli scored fifth overall with a 9.775 while Lauren Keener and Camille Vitoff tied for eighth with 9.750 to round out Towson's scoring. 
• Towson logged a 48.975 on bars, elevating its season-best mark by over two tenths of a point.
• It was a Towson sweep on vault as Bolen, Vitoff and Weitz all scored a 9.775 in the Tigers' second rotation. Bolen and Vitoff tied season-bests from the home opener while Weitz reset her season high. Freshman Elise Tisler landed a 9.750, adding a full tenth of a point to her previous best. Mia Davis was Towson's fifth scorer with a career-best 9.600. 
• The Tigers won the vault with a 48.800, two tenths of a point better than the hosts while improving on its previous season high by nearly three full tenths.
• Rotating to floor first, Towson scored a 9.850 from Amy Stewart in the four spot. The junior's score finished second overall on the day and set a season-best. Bolen and Hong tied for fourth overall with a 9.775 as Vaillancourt and Paige Casper scored 9.675s on the floor.
• Towson finished with a combined 48.750 on floor, a tenth and a half shy of N.C. State's eventual 48.900.
• The Tigers' final rotation of the day sent the team to beam, following behind N.C. State's combined 49.200 in the third rotation. Vaillancourt was Towson's top scorer, tying for fourth with a 9.800 in her first official beam effort of the season. Bolen and Hong scored 9.750s, tying for seventh while Emerson Hurst posted a 9.650 followed by a 9.600 from Weitz. 
• As a team, Towson finished with a 48.450 on beam.

Behind the Numbers

• Towson's 195.075 reset the season high, improving on last weekend's 194.125 against West Virginia, West Chester and William & Mary.
• It was the first time since at least 2013 the Tigers scored so highly in the first month of the season.
• Bolen and Vitoff have been at least top three in each vault this season; it was the first time this year either has been at the top spot. Weitz landed her first podium finish of the year on vault.
• This is the second-straight week Hong has finished with the top score on bars while Vaillancourt made her debut at the top of the bars standings.
• Saturday's meet was the second time this season Stewart shared a lead on the floor with her 9.850.
• The 195.075 points the Tigers accumulated in Raleigh on Saturday mark the highest point total Towson has produced at a meet hosted by N.C. State since at least 2013. It is also Towson's highest road score this season, improving on a 194.000 in the season opener at UNH (Jan. 9).

Quotable - Towson Head Coach Jay Ramirez

• This team did great tonight, finishing until the end.
• The maturity that they are showing shines through with every meet.
• We have some things to tighten up on and we're looking forward to next week.

Up Next for Towson

• The Tigers return to North Carolina next weekend for another EAGL meet.
• Towson takes on host UNC and fellow visitor Pitt for a Friday night meet at the Tar Heels' Carmichael Arena.
• Meet time is set for 7 p.m. Please visit TowsonTigers.com for broadcast information as the week progresses.