Final Results
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The Illinois women's gymnastics team scored a season-high 196.550 to defeat the Michigan State Spartans on Senior Night. As a team, the Orange and Blue posted three season-high event scores on bars, beam and floor. Freshman Rae Balthazor and junior Bridget Hodan each earned the first individual event titles of their careers on bars and beam, respectively. Sophomore Lizzy LeDuc continued her winning ways with two event titles of her own on vault and floor. She now has 15 individual titles this season.
"They (Erin Buchanan and Sarah Lyons) mean so much to our program," said head coach Kim Landrus of the senior class. "To see Erin end the night on floor with a season-high performance was phenomenal. Sarah started us off on bars after our vault rotation and just did a phenomenal routine. I couldn't be more proud and it was just a great way to end it in Huff."
Illinois vaulted to an early advantage in the meet, posting a 48.700 on vault in the first rotation. The Illini were led by LeDuc's 9.825 and Balthazor posted a career-high 9.775. Redshirt-junior Mary Jane Horth followed with a 9.725 mark. Senior Erin Buchanan recorded a 9.70 and fellow-senior Sarah Lyons rounded out the Illini scoring with a 9.675.
The Illini moved on to bars in the second rotation, posting a season-best 49.225 on bars. Balthazor led the way with a 9.90 score, which is the highest by an Illinois gymnast on bars this season. Buchanan matched her career-high with a 9.85 and Lyons recorded a season-best by the same mark. Horth continued with a 9.825 and Howell tallied a 9.775. Illinois led Michigan State by more than a point after the second rotation, 97.925-96.725.
The Orange and Blue continued to build momentum in the third rotation as Illinois posted a season-best 49.375 on beam. The mark matches the program's third-highest team score on the apparatus in program history. Hodan began the rotation with a career-high 9.925. Horth followed by matching her career-best mark of 9.90. Junior Brielle Nguyen posted a 9.875, LeDuc tallied a 9.85 and Roe recorded a 9.825. The Illini held on to their advantage over the Spartans after the third rotation, 147.300-145.650.
Illinois concluded the meet with a season-high 49.250 on floor. LeDuc again led Illinois on the event, tallying a season-high 9.925. Hodan posted a career-best 9.875 and Buchanan hit the same mark. Nguyen posted a 9.80 and Howell scored a 9.80.
Up next, Illinois concludes the regular season on a three-meet road trip. The Illini will begin the stretch against the Kentucky Wildcats next Friday night in Lexington, Kentucky. The Top-25 matchup is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. CT.
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