CRETE, Neb. – The College of Saint Mary competitive dance team finished just a couple points out of third place on Saturday at the Doane Invitational, but settled for fifth in the five-team field with a team score of 71.58.

Doane won the event with a 87.38 points and was followed by Graceland University (85.71), Briar Cliff University (73.83), Hastings College (72.79) and the Flames.

CSM Coach Jennifer Wasik saw some encouraging signs from her team.

"Our overall performance showed a lot of improvement from last Wednesday,'' she said. "We were two points away from third place, so we are right in striking distance to be really competitive the rest of the season.''

The Flames coach is confident that her team will continue to strive to improve its scores.

"We are trending in the right direction as we continue to clean up more aspects of a very difficult routine,'' she said. "Our execution scores are not where I'd like to see them yet, but we aren't letting up on getting the routine to the level I know it can be at.''

CSM returns to competition Saturday, Feb. 7, at the Concordia Invitational in Seward, Neb.