University of Illinois
Big Ten Championships
LeDuc, Horth Carry Illini to Second-Place Finish at Big Ten Championships
March 18, 2017 | Women's Gymnastics
Illinois scored a season-high 196.875 at the Rutgers Athletic Center.
Final Results | Highlights | Photo Gallery | Kim Landrus Interview | Bridget Hodan Interview | Mary Jane Horth Interview
PISCATAWAY, N.J – Redshirt junior Mary Jane Horth and sophomore Lizzy LeDuc led the Illini at the 2017 Big Ten Championships as the two each won individual event titles. Horth earned the Big Ten Bars title with a score of 9.925 and LeDuc won the Big Ten Beam title with a mark of 9.925. The two individual Big Ten champions is the most for an Illinois squad since 2009 when Kelsey Joannides and Sarah Schmidt won the vault and floor titles, respectively.
As a team, the Orange and Blue posted a season-high 196.875 for a second-place finish on Saturday evening. The 196.875 team score is tied for the fifth-highest team score in program history and the highest finish for an Orange and Blue team in the Big Ten Championships since 2015. The Michigan Wolverines took home the team title with a 197.300 and Illinois finished ahead of Iowa (196.725), Nebraska (196.475), Ohio State (195.525) and Penn State (195.200).
"I can't even put into words what a great feeling this was tonight," said head coach Kim Landrus. "As I said, this week's word was purpose. We came in here with a purpose from the very start. They called it 'our house' and they acted like it was our house tonight."
After beginning the meet on a bye, the Illini earned a 49.375 team score on floor in the second rotation. Junior Bridget Hodan and LeDuc led the way for Illinois with marks of 9.90. Freshman Karen Howell followed with a career-high 9.875. Senior Erin Buchanan and sophomore Brielle Nguyen each tallied a 9.85 to finish the Orange and Blue scoring. The 49.375 mark is good for the eighth-highest team score on floor in program history.
Illinois moved on to vault in the third rotation, scoring a season-best 49.000 team score. Junior Jordyn Givens matched her career-high mark of 9.85 to lead the way on the apparatus. Horth and LeDuc each recorded a 9.80 and the senior duo of Buchanan and Sarah Lyons matched their respective season-high tallies of 9.775. After three rotations, Illinois sat in second place behind Michigan, 98.525-98.375.
The Orange and Blue matched their season-best on bars with a 49.225 team score. Horth led the way with a 9.925 to win the Individual Beam Championship, and Howell matched her career-high with a 9.875. Lyons contributed a 9.825. Freshman Rae Balthazor and LeDuc rounded out the Illinois scoring with marks of 9.80.
The Illini concluded the meet with a 49.275 on beam. LeDuc led all competitors with her 9.925 mark. Hodan recorded a 9.90 and Horth tallied a 9.85. Sophomore Haylee Roe scored a 9.825 and Nguyen finished the Illini scoring with a 9.775 tally.
LeDuc, Hodan and Horth also earned All-Championship Team honors.
Up next, the Fighting Illini will host five teams for the NCAA Urbana-Champaign Regional on April 1. The meet will begin at 4 p.m. CT at the State Farm Center. Tickets for the event are on sale now.
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