Results
COLUMBUS, Ohio – No. 23 Illinois women's gymnastics scored a 196.325 and took second place against No. 15 Ohio State, Kent State and Bowling Green at Covelli Center Friday night.
The Buckeyes had the highest score of the evening with a 196.825, Kent State scored a 196.125 and Bowling Green scored a 194.275.
"We had some bright moments tonight," head coach Nadalie Walsh said. "The vault team did great and had controlled landings. Kaitlyn Ewald tied her career high on floor with her rock solid routine and Mia Townes owned the floor. On bars, Lyden Saltness and Mia Takekawa had exceptional routines.
The rest of the season the team needs to keep focused and be confident and trust their gymnastics and themselves. I can't wait to compete again on Sunday in Huff Hull!"
Townes earned her first vault event win of the season with a 9.875, with Saltness and Takekawa taking the bars title with a pair of 9.900s.
Event breakdown
Beam
Kicking off the meet on beam, Ewald tied her career high, notching a 9.850, the highest Illini score. Townes, Takekawa and Abby Mueller all took 9.800s to round Illinois out.
Floor
Ewald and Townes highlighted floor for the Illini, both scoring a 9.875. Fitzgibbon took the second-highest Illinois score with a 9.800.
Vault
Mueller, Takekawa and Arielle Ward were close behind Townes, with Mueller taking a 9.850 and Takekawa and Ward scoring a 9.825.
Bars
Ewald and Knight finished the night off for the Illini with a couple of 9.800s.
Up Next
Illinois will have a quick turnaround as it hosts Bowling Green on Sunday at 2 p.m. CT at Huff Hall for the Women Empowerment meet. Admission is free.
