Results
PISCATAWAY, N.J. - The No. 19 Illinois women's gymnastics team garnered its first victory of the 2016 season Saturday defeating Rutgers 195.500-191.600 at the Rutgers Athletic Center. The Illini topped the Scarlet Knights in team total in every event and an Illini gymnasts took first place honors in each event including the all-around.
"After starting the meet with some unforced errors on bars, the team regrouped and put together a solid vault rotation," head coach Kim Landrus said. "We continued the momentum the rest of the meet; however, still too many minor mistakes to score over a 49 on either beam or floor. These are fixable errors that we will work hard to eliminate next weekend.
Giana O'Connor claimed four titles on the day, finishing with the best score on bars (9.825), floor (9.875) and the all-around (39.325). Erin Buchanan and O'Connor claimed the vault title with a 9.825. Additionally, Mary Jane Horth won the beam title with a 9.850.
"Giana was remarkable today winning four event titles en route to her season best all-around score," Landrus said. "This is a direct reflection of the attention to detail she places on every turn during practice. I always emphasize that one will compete the way they practice and it could not have been more true today."
Illinois started the meet on bars totaling a 48.625. O'Connor led Illinois on the event with a 9.825. Sunny Kato and Lizzy LeDuc followed with a 9.800 and 9.725, respectively. Horth added a 9.700, while Rachael Donovan and Buchanan both scored a 9.575.
The Orange and Blue garnered the lead after the second rotation, leading 97.625-95.100, as the Illini scored a 49.00 on vault. Buchanan and O'Connor scored a meet-best 9.825. Rounding out the Illini who scored in the event are Horth (9.800), Foley (9.775) and LeDuc (9.775). Horth finished tied for third on the event.
On floor in the third rotation the Illini totaled a 48.925. O'Connor led with a 9.875 and Buchanan followed with a 9.825. Heather Foley and Horth scored a 9.750 while LeDuc also scored for Illinois with a 9.725.
The Illini finished on beam scoring a 48.950. Horth led with a 9.850 and O'Connor and Bridget Hodan scored a 9.800 that placed in second. LeDuc scored a 9.775 and Sunny Kato scored a 9.725 to round out the team total.
Illinois had three gymnasts post over a 39 in the all-around. O'Connor led with a 39.325 to secure her second all-around title this season. Horth finished with a 39.100 and LeDuc posted a career-best 39.00.
Up next, the Illini host Michigan in the 2016 home opener Friday, Jan. 22 inside Huff Hall at 7 p.m.
