Career Performances Carry Illini Over Penn State

Illinois tallied a 195.625 on Sunday afternoon at Huff Hall.

Women's Gymnastics January 29, 2017

Career Performances Carry Illini Over Penn State

Illinois tallied a 195.625 on Sunday afternoon at Huff Hall.

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The Illinois women's gymnastics team earned a 195.625-193.250 victory over the Penn State Lady Lions on Sunday afternoon. The Illini had six gymnasts tally season-high marks, led by freshman Karen Howell, who won the first event title of her career on bars. Sophomore Lizzy LeDuc earned two event titles in the all-around and on floor.

"I was extremely proud of the girls," said head coach Kim Landrus. "We started off on vault and had some good vaults but I don't think in the end it was exactly what we were looking for. I got them together and I said 'This will help us grow stronger down the road.' We had three more events and I think they really went to bars with a clean slate and had some really great, solid performances and carried that throughout the rest of the meet."

Illinois tallied a 48.550 on vault to begin the dual meet. LeDuc led the Illini with a 9.80 followed by redshirt-junior Mary Jane Horth, who scored a 9.725. Senior Erin Buchanan notched a 9.70, freshman Rae Balthazor recorded a 9.675 and senior Sarah Lyons scored a 9.65. Penn State held an early advantage after the first rotation, 48.675-48.550.

The Illini regained the lead after scoring a 48.975 on bars. Four gymnasts scored or tied their season-high marks on the apparatus. Howell led the way for the Orange and Blue with a career-high 9.85. Lyons tallied a season-high 9.825 followed by Horth and Balthazor each contributing 9.775 marks. LeDuc also tied her season-best score with a 9.75 to complete the rotation.

"Karen is so modest," said Landrus about Howell. "Everything is for the team, but you just see such growth from her. She's such a talented competitor and athlete. So, it was just really good just to see her go and hit that bar routine like she does every day in practice."

The third rotation saw the Illini post their fourth-consecutive score above 49.000 with a 49.025 on the balance beam. Junior Brielle Nguyen and sophomore Haylee Roe posted marks of 9.825. LeDuc scored a 9.85, junior Bridget Hodan followed with a 9.80 and Howell rounded out the Illinois scoring with a 9.725. After the third rotation, Illinois held a two-point advantage over the Lady Lions, 146.550-144.440.

Illinois posted a season-high 49.075 team score on floor to complete the competition. LeDuc led the Illini with a mark of 9.875. Senior Erin Buchanan posted a season-high score of 9.825 followed by a career-high 9.80 from Howell. Nguyen also tallied a 9.80 and Roe scored a season-high 9.775.

Howell recorded a career-high 39.000 in the all-around competition, good for a third place finish.

Up next, the Illini will host the Minnesota Gophers next Saturday at 4 p.m. CT. Illinois will also host a kids' clinic following the meet.

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