The Golden Flashes score 196.025 in the victory, marking the team's second straight 196 score of the season

KENT, Ohio – The Kent State gymnastics team concluded the 2012 regular season on a high note Sunday afternoon, as the Golden Flashes posted a 196.025-192.425 victory over visiting Cornell at the M.A.C. Center.

In the final home meet of the season, and the last home performance for Kent State seniors Jaime Caldwell (Blue Ash, Ohio), Rachel Goldenberg (Doylestown, Pa.), Erin Rothrock (York, Pa.) and Brianna Skiffington (Lumberton, N.J.), Kent State surpassed the 196 plateau for the second straight week, heading into the Mid-American Conference championships on an upswing.

"For them to finish on this type of note, with the two scores we've had the last two weeks as well as this week, I think they couldn't ask for a better finish leading up to what we need to do next week," said head coach Brice Biggin.

Again the Golden Flashes were precise on the floor exercise, bolstered by a near-perfect 9.950 by sophomore Marie Case (Erie, Pa.). Case convinced one judge it was a perfect routine, aiding in Case's best career score on the floor and tying her for fifth in program history. It was the highest Kent State score on the floor since 2004.

"It was definitely the best routine I've ever done," said Case. "It was really exciting to actually see one of the judges give me a 10. It was an amazing feeling."

Goldenberg wasn't far behind with the team's final floor routine, as the senior capped the meet with a career-best 9.925 on the floor.   

The Golden Flashes got the meet off on the right foot, posting a 49.125 on the vault, led by Goldenberg's 9.875.

Kent State then followed up with a 49.075 on bars, as Kent State had the top six scorers on the apparatus in the dual. Junior Rachel Guida (Cumberland, R.I.) and Rothrock led the way with matching 9.850s Guida's mark tied her career-best on the bars, while Rothrock's tied her season-high from last week. Freshman Kelsey Lawless (Lyndhurst, Ohio) also had a season-best with a 9.775.

Although the Golden Flashes wavered slightly on the balance beam, a career-best 9.925 by Case carried Kent State and sent the team onto the floor exercise on an upswing. There, four Kent State gymnasts tied or set career-highs: Case, Goldenberg, Whitnee Johnson (Columbia, Mo.) with a 9.850 and Nicole Radon (Hamburg, N.Y.) and her 9.775.

Kent State will head to Northern Illinois University for the 2012 MAC Championships Saturday, March 24 for a 2 p.m. start.