Results
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - The No. 19 Illinois women's gymnastics team overcome a .675 deficit heading into the last rotation to defeat Penn State 195.725-195.025 Friday night. A season-best total (49.200) on beam in the last rotation secured Illinois its highest team score of the season and its second Big Ten road victory.
Illinois garnered three titles on the night. Lizzy LeDuc and Sunny Kato both produced a season-best 9.900 to share the beam crown. LeDuc garnered the first event title of her Illini career. Mary Jane Horth took home her first all-around crown of the season with a season-best 39.400. Additionally, Horth shared the bars title with a 9.900.
"It was a very disappointing start to the meet," head coach Kim Landrus said. "This team can be very good on bars, but they have to do it when it counts. We rebounded in the second half and had two season high event scores. It's early in the season, but as we get further along, the performance tonight will not be enough. We have to be strong on four events to compete well in the Big Ten and nationally."
Illinois started the meet on bars, totaling a 48.625. Horth scored her third 9.900 routine of the season to lead the Illini in the event. Erin Buchanan followed with a season-best 9.850. Sunny Kato (9.825), Sarah Lyons (9.775) and Giana O'Connor (9.275) also counted scores in the event.
On vault in the second rotation, Illinois scored a 48.675. O'Connor led with a 9.825 which placed second. Horth followed with a 9.800 that tied her season best. Buchanan and Heather Foley totaled a 9.725 and Julia Hutcherson scored a 9.600 to round out the team total.
Illinois totaled a season-best 49.225 on floor in the third rotation. All five routines the Illini counted were a 9.800 or higher. Buchanan and Leduc led with a 9.875 that placed second. Horth scored a 9.850, tying her season best. O'Connor (9.825) and Bridget Hodan (9.800) also added to the team total.
The Illini proved to be clutch on beam in the final rotation. LeDuc and Kato scored a 9.900 to share the crown. Horth followed with a 9.850. O'Connor (9.800) and Buchanan (9.750) also counted scores.
Up next, the Illini face a road match against Minnesota on Feb. 6 at 3 p.m. CT.
