DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Oklahoma City University earned the No. 1 score in the NAIA team dance performance preliminaries Thursday at the Ocean Center in the National Dance Alliance College Nationals. 

Oklahoma City turned in an 87.60 score to hold a 0.225 edge against Aquinas (Mich.) in the prelims. The Stars perform in the finals 12:03 p.m. EDT (11:03 a.m. CDT) Friday at the Ocean Center. 

The teams scored points in eight categories, including collegiate image, performance impression as well as choreography and execution in hip hop, jazz and pom skills.  

"I am proud of their Daytona debut after a brief hiatus," OCU coach Tasha Hinex said. "We are ready to clean up some things for tomorrow." 

OCU has taken four NDA national titles – the 2011 large dance crown, 2013 NAIA large dance title and the NAIA small dance team performance and NDA Division III hip hop championships in 2016 – as well as the 2014 NAIA dance championship.