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Mt. Pleasant, Mich. - The No. 15 Illinois women's gymnastics team started 2015 with a 195.175-193.475 road win over No. 23 Central Michigan. The Orange and Blue started the season with a score over 195 for the second time ever, a feat the Illini first accomplished last season. In addition, the Illini topped the Chippewas in team total in every event except floor.

"I am extremely proud of the way the team came out and performed in its first meet of the 2015 season," head coach Kim Landrus said. "We talked as a group that there would be little things along the way that may occur and the challenge of any great team is not allowing any mistake to faze them. Everyone followed the plan exactly and when a small error occurred, they continued their routines as they do in practice every day."

Illinois took home individual titles on bars and vault, as sophomore Sarah Lyons claimed the bars title (9.850) in her collegiate debut and junior Giana O'Connor claimed the vault title (9.850). O'Connor turned in a strong 2015 debut posting a 39.200. Furthermore, competing in the all-around for their first times in the Orange and Blue, sophomores Mary Jane Horth and Erin Buchanan both posted a 39.075.

"It's encouraging because I think this team is hungry," Landrus said. "They know that today was a starting point and they can see the areas in which we can improve on. I am confident that they will get back in the gym and continue doing everything we have been doing with concentration on a few areas that maybe were not up to our full potential today."

Illinois started the meet on bars and led the Chippewas after the first rotation 49.000-48.675. Sarah Lyons led the Illini in her debut in the Orange and Blue with a 9.850. Horth also stood out in the event posting a second-place finish with a 9.825. Illinois also counted scores from Buchanan (9.775), senior Jordan Naleway (9.775) and O'Connor (9.775).

The Illini increased their lead in the second rotation after scoring a 48.675 on vault. O'Connor claimed the event title with a 9.850, while Buchanan posted a second-place finish with a 9.800. Horth (9.750), junior Heather Foley (9.725) and freshman Jordyn Givens (9.550) also contributed to the vault total.

On floor, in the third rotation, Illinois totaled a 48.725. The Illini posted three scores of 9.775 by Horth, O'Connor and Buchanan which were good for a third-place finish. Naleway added a 9.725 and senior Kelsi Eberly added a 9.675 to round out the floor total.

The Illini secured the victory on beam where they posted a 48.775. O'Connor lead the squad with a 9.800, while senior Sunny Kato and Foley earned a 9.775 and 9.750, respectively. Horth (9.725) and Buchanan (9.725) also contributed to the beam total.

Up next, the Illini return to Champaign for their home-opener inside Huff Hall next weekend. Illinois will host Rutgers at 4 pm on Jan. 17.