Hawkeyes Edge Illini in Tri-Meet

Illinois's season-best 196.050 was not enough to overcome Iowa on Saturday afternoon.

Women's Gymnastics February 11, 2017

Hawkeyes Edge Illini in Tri-Meet

Illinois's season-best 196.050 was not enough to overcome Iowa on Saturday afternoon.

IOWA CITY, Iowa – The Fighting Illini women's gymnastics team recorded a season-high team score of 196.050 to earn a second place finish on Saturday afternoon. Sophomore Lizzy LeDuc earned two event titles on floor (9.875) and in the all-around (39.350). The Orange and Blue finished ahead of UIC (192.625), and Iowa took the team title with a 196.475.

"I think we had mixed results today," said head coach Kim Landrus. "We had a lot of great performances. We had season-highs on vault and floor and a season-best overall team score. There were definitely several positive takeaways, but we are competing in a perfection-based sport. We gave away a lot of little tenths here and there. We need to get back in the gym to chase after those tenths."

Illinois began the meet on bars with a 48.950. Three Illini, senior Sarah Lyons, redshirt-junior Mary Jane Horth and freshman Rae Balthazor, each tallied a 9.80 on the apparatus. Freshman Karen Howell and LeDuc followed with 9.775 marks. The Illini trailed the Hawkeyes, 49.075-48.950 after the first rotation.

LeDuc led the way on the balance beam with a 9.85. Junior Bridget Hodan notched a 9.80. Sophomores Haylee Roe, Brielle Nguyen and Howell each tallied a 9.775 to round out the Illinois scoring. Illinois recorded a 49.025 on the apparatus, but still trailed the Hawkeyes by less than a point going into the third rotation.

The Orange and Blue scored a season-high 49.175 on floor. For the fifth-straight meet, LeDuc led the Illini on floor with a 9.875 mark. Howell recorded a career-high 9.825 and senior Erin Buchanan matched her season-high tally by the same score. Nguyen recorded another 9.825 and Roe would finish the rotation with a 9.775.

Illinois continued to produce season-high marks during the vault rotation. Horth and LeDuc each matched their season-best scores of 9.85. Buchanan and Lyons produced 9.725 marks and Balthazor matched her career-high with a 9.75. The Illini carded a season-high 48.900 on the apparatus.

Freshman Karen Howell also recorded a career-best 39.075 in the all-around competition.

Up next, the Fighting Illini will host the Michigan State Spartans on Friday, Feb. 17 at 7 p.m. at Huff Hall. The meet will celebrate Senior Night for Illinois seniors, Sarah Lyons and Erin Buchanan.

NCAA Regional Tickets on Sale Now

Admission to the women's Big Five Meet is free to the general public. The NCAA Champaign Regional and Big Ten Championships tickets are on sale now. All seating is general admission. Order fees do apply to online and phone orders. Tickets are sold online at www.fightingillini.com, over the phone at 1-866-ILLINI-1 or 217-333-3470, or in person at the Illinois Ticket Office at the State Farm Center, 1800 S First Street, Champaign, IL 61820. In addition to tickets, State Farm Center suites will be available for purchase, please contact premiumseating@illinois.edu for details.

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