Results
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - For the first time since 2020, the Illini knocked off the Ohio State Buckeyes. Illinois defeated the No. 18 team by a score of 196.150 to 195.475 on Friday, Feb. 7 behind stand-out efforts from Arielle Ward, Makayla Green, and Olivia Coppola.
Ward got the night off to a quick start on vault, tying a career high with a 9.925 to take the event title. The Illini put together their highest team score of the season with a 49.100. After the first rotation, the Orange and Blue led by 0.325.
On bars, senior captain Makayla Green scored a 9.925 for the second-straight week, again tying a career high. She would also win the event title, and Chloe Cho would take second with another career-high 9.875.
In the third rotation, it was Coppola's turn to earn a career high, as her 9.875 secured the beam title. "I'm very proud of all of Olivia's progress," said head coach Nadalie Walsh. "She continues to mature and take on bigger roles for this team."
After three rotations, Ohio State had fought back to take a 0.600 lead over the Fighting Illini, leaving it all up to the floor crew.
Tali Joelson and Ward both tied their floor career highs with 9.875s to lead off for the Orange and Blue. Cho came through with the highest floor score of the night for the Illini with a 9.900.
"We came into this meet knowing that we were doing this for not only the current team, but all the alumni that we're celebrating this weekend," Walsh said. "The girls know they're in the midst of their glory days, and they have to not only take it in, but use it to fuel their focus. This team is something special, and it just takes time for all the pieces to come together. Tonight was a giant leap forward in that process. I'm so proud of the team for the way they stuck together and battled to earn this win."
Illinois will be back at Huff Hall on Sunday, Feb. 9 to face off against No. 9 Missouri for Braggin' Rights. The meet is slated to begin at 1 p.m. CT.
Event Winners
Olivia Coppola - Balance Beam (9.875)
Makayla Green - Uneven Bars (9.925)
Arielle Ward - Vault (9.925)
Career Highs
Chloe Cho - Uneven Bars (9.875)
Olivia Coppola - Balance Beam (9.875)
Mya Gordon - Vault (9.775)
Makayla Green - Uneven Bars (9.925)
Tali Joelson - Floor Exercise (9.875)
Arielle Ward - Vault (9.925), Floor Exercise (9.875)
