Air Force Falls in Opening Round of Baton Rouge Regional

BATON ROUGE, La. – Air Force Women's Gymnastics, in a celebration of its record-shattering 2026 season, took on Nebraska in the first round of the NCAA Baton Rouge Regional on Wednesday at LSU's Pete Maravich Assembly Center. The Falcons fell to the Huskers, 195.600-194.475, ending a historic season for Team 50.

Junior all-around gymnast Maggie Slife closed Wednesday with a 39.550, her fourth-best career all-around score and thus Air Force's fourth-best ever. Slife scored a trio of 9.900s on vault, uneven bars and floor exercise and a 9.850 on balance beam. Slife's collection of judgements in Wednesday's competition earned her sole possession of first place in all four events.

Air Force led Nebraska by one tenth at the close of vault. The Falcons scored a 48.775, led by Slife's stuck Yurchenko full (9.900). A pair of 9.750s for both sophomore Alyssa Bigler and junior Olivia Raife and a 9.725 for freshman specialist Caroline Walker rounded out the Falcons' top scores in their opening rotation.

Bars proved a tough obstacle for Air Force to overcome. The Falcons had to recover from a pair of falls on bars but closed with a 9.825 from sophomore Alyssa Bigler and 9.900 from Slife in the anchor spot, finishing with a 48.000 as a team.

The Falcons rebounded on balance beam, scoring a 48.700. Freshman Erin McDermott, leading off for Air Force, earned a 9.800 – Her fifth 9.800 or better this season. Sophomore Anna Bacott scored a 9.825 and Slife a first-place 9.850 in a massive bounce back performance after stumbling on beam in the Mountain West Championship on March 21.

Air Force finished strong on floor, earning a 49.000 and its best team total of the afternoon. The Falcons' go-to all arounders shined in the final event of the day; Senior Kylee Greene scored a 9.850, earning her eighth-straight 9.800 or higher on floor. Slife landed a 9.900 to earn her fourth top score of the day and Bigler closed Air Force's regional bid with a 9.825.

Up Next:
Though Air Force Women's Gymnastics' season has reached its conclusion, three Falcons fight on in the 2026 NCAA Baton Rouge Regional – Bigler, Greene and Slife will represent the Academy as individuals in Session II of the semifinal round, sharing the floor with No. 2 LSU, No. 15 Auburn, Clemson and advancing Nebraska. Second-round competition is set for Thursday evening at 6 p.m. MT at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center.

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