LINCOLN, Neb. - The No. 25 Fighting Illini women's gymnastics team finished second in the morning session and eighth among all competitors at the 2016 Big Ten Championships in Lincoln, Nebraska. Illinois produced a 195.175 Saturday afternoon inside the Devaney Center.
Iowa had the top mark to beat after the morning session, posting a 195.875. Michigan won the evening session to claim the Big Ten Championship title with a 197.125 by narrowly edging out Nebraska by .225.
Sunny Kato and Bridget Hodan were named to the 2016 All-Championship team. Kato tied for third on bars with a 9.900, while Kato and Hodan finished first in the morning session on beam with a 9.850. Kato turned in her best finish at Big Tens on bars, securing her second straight All-Championships honor.
"We had some really great moments and some great events," head coach Kim Landrus said. "Bars was great for us today and we started off strong on floor. We ended up with some great routines on beam as well."
"Sunny's work ethic is so high and her attitude is so great, so you know she brings it every single time she comes to a meet. Bridget is so beautiful on beam and talented, so her performance today is what I would expect of her."
Junior Erin Buchanan produced a 39.100 in the all-around, while freshman Lizzy LeDuc garnered a 39.025 in her first Big Ten Championships. All-Americans Mary Jane Horth and Giana O'Connor were sidelined with injuries.
The Orange and Blue began the meet on floor and led the morning session competitors after the first rotation. Illinois totaled a 49.025 on the event, its eighth score over 49 on floor this season. Erin Buchanan and Lizzy LeDuc garnered a team-best 9.850. The rest of the Illini lineup produced a 9.775, which included Heather Foley, Bridget Hodan, Haylee Roe and Brielle Nguyen.
In the second rotation, Illinois totaled a 48.350 on vault. Buchanan produced a team-best 9.800, while LeDuc garnered a 9.700. Also contributing to the team total were Foley (9.675), Roe (9.650), Lyons (9.525) and Julia Hutcherson (9.525).
On bars in the third rotation, the Illini scored a 48.975, their second-best total on the event this season. Kato produced a 9.900 that placed third. LeDuc followed with a 9.850, while Sarah Lyons tied her season-high with a 9.850. Illinois also counted scores from Buchanan (9.725) and Jordyn Givens (9.650).
Finishing the meet on beam, Illinois totaled a 48.825. Kato and Hodan led the squad with a 9.850 that placed seventh. Roe followed with a 9.775, while Buchanan (9.725) and LeDuc (9.625) added to the team total.
The Illini will now await to see which one of six NCAA Regional sites they will be heading to. The NCAA selection show will air Monday at 3 p.m. CT on NCAA.com.
