MARSHALL, Texas – For the second year in a row, East Texas Baptist University opened up their new season with a victory over Texas Lutheran University, 219.845 to 179.380. The win gives new head coach Berkley McDonald her first win in her first meet at ETBU.
 
ETBU came out early scoring 30 points out of 40 in the Compulsory Event. They started with a 7.55 in the Acro heat followed by two 9.0+ scores. They posted a 9.40 in the Pyramid heat and a 9.35 in the Toss heat. They came out ahead of TLU by almost seven points, 30.45 to 23.50.
 
Great scores continued for ETBU in the Acro Event as they scored 24.80 points. In the 5 Element, they had an 8.05 followed by a 7.65 in the 6 Element. Earning their third 9.0+ score of the night, ETBU had a 9.10 in the 7 Element.
 
In the final event before halftime, ETBU came out almost two points ahead of TLU in the Pyramid Event, 27.20 to 25.45. ETBU added two more 9.0+ scores for five in the first part of the meet. The event started off with a 9.40 in the Inversion and an 8.25 in the Synchronized. Their highest score of the night came in the Open with a 9.55 to end the first part of the meet. ETBU took an 82.45 to 67.80 halftime lead.
 
ETBU held off TLU, 25.15 to 21.90, in the Toss Event. The 450 Salto brought an 8.45 and a 7.95 in the Synchronized. The best score of the event came in heat three in the Open with an 8.75.
 
The Tumbling Event featured six heats as TLU edged ETBU, 39.45 to 38.125. The Duo Pass of Macie Goff and Jessica Kuhlman started with a 7.65. Goff then scored an 8.20 in the Aerial Pass as the top score in the event.
 
Coming down to the final event, the team event, ETBU came away with 74.12 points for the win. TLU finished with 50.23 as ETBU took five of the six events for the meet.
 
ETBU will next be in action on Sunday, Feb. 18, in Belton, Texas, at the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor.