University of Illinois
NCAA Regional
Illini Seek NCAA Bid at Champaign Regional
March 30, 2017 | Women's Gymnastics
| MEET 13: NCAA Urbana-Champaign Regional | |
|---|---|
| Date | Saturday, April 1, 2017 | 4 p.m. CST |
| Location | Champaign, Ill. | State Farm Center |
| Live Links | Live Scoring and Video |
| 2017 Information | Meet Notes | Record Book | Championship Central Page |
Illinois to Host NCAA Urbana-Champaign Regional
The Fighting Illini women's gymnastics team is set to host the 2017 NCAA Urbana-Champaign Regional on Saturday at 4 p.m. CT at the State Farm Center. Illinois will welcome five other teams, UCLA, Oregon State, Iowa, Eastern Michigan and Ohio, as well as, several individual competitors from four other institutions for the six-rotation competition. The top two teams will advance to the NCAA Championship semifinals in St. Louis on April 14-15. UI has qualified for an NCAA Regional in each of the past 14 seasons.
Illinois Notes
• The Illini posted a season-best 196.875 at the Big Ten Championships on March 18. The team score is tied for the fifth-highest in program history. UI also earned a season-best 49.000 team score on vault and matched a season-high 49.225 team score on bars.
• Illinois is ranked 11th in the nation on the balance beam with an RQS of 49.290, 15th on floor with an RQS of 49.230 and 23rd on bars with an RQS of 49.095.
• The Orange and Blue hit the program's second-highest team floor score in Illinois history at the B1G Five Meet with a 49.450. Each of the first four gymnasts matched or bested their career-high marks.
• After only eclipsing the 196.000 mark twice last season, Illinois has reached that mark seven times in 2017 and holds an RQS of 196.365. A major improvement comes from the bars apparatus. UI contributed two team scores in 2016 over 49.000 on bars. This season, Illinois has produced scores above 49.000 on bars six times.
• Illinois reset their season-high team scores on bars (49.225), beam (49.375) and floor (49.250) against Michigan State. The beam score is the third-highest score in program history on the apparatus
• The Orange and Blue have marked scores of 49.000 or above on the balance beam in all 12 meets this season. Illinois only hit 49.000 in six meets last season, finishing the 2016 campaign with a season average of 49.052.
• Freshman Rae Balthazor earned her first individual event title against Michigan State with a career-best 9.900 on bars.
• Junior Bridget Hodan earned her first individual event title against Michigan State after scoring a career-high 9.925 on beam. Hodan also recorded a career-high 9.875 on floor.
• Sophomore Brielle Nguyen matched a career-high 9.90 on beam for the Illini at Denver. The mark is the second at or above 9.90 during her career in the Orange and Blue. The first 9.90 came against Minnesota.
• Freshman Karen Howell earned the first individual event title of her career against Penn State with a career-
high 9.85 on bars. The freshman also hit career-high marks in the all-around (39.000) and on floor (9.800).
• Sophomore Rachael Donovan recorded a career-high 9.725 on bars against Penn State.
• LeDuc is currently ranked 17th on the balance beam and 23rd on floor, nationally.
• Nguyen earned her first career individual event title at Missouri on Jan. 6. Nguyen posted a 9.875 on the balance beam.
Last Time Out-Big Ten Championships
As a team, the Orange and Blue posted a season-high 196.875 for a second-place finish at the Big Ten Championships. 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) in the evening session.
Horth, LeDuc Earn B1G Individual Event Titles
Mary Jane Horth and Lizzy LeDuc earned Big Ten Individual Event titles. Horth won the bars title with a 9.925 and LeDuc won the beam title by the same score. The two individual conference titles are the most for an Illini team since the 2009 season.
Four Illini Garner All-Big Ten Honors
Four members of the Illinois women's gymnastics team were named to the Big Ten All-Conference teams, the league announced on March 13. Redshirt-senior Mary Jane Horth and sophomore Lizzy LeDuc earned First-Team All-Big Ten honors. Junior Bridget Hodan and sophomore Brielle Nguyen collected Second-Team All-Big Ten awards. The four honors is the most for an Illinois team since 2014.
Eight Illini Earn B1G All-Academic Honors
Eight members of the Illinois women's gymnastics team garnered Academic All-Big Ten honors this season. Erin Buchanan, Becca Cuppy, Jordyn Givens, Bridget Hodan, Mary Jane Horth, Lizzy LeDuc, Sarah Lyons and Haylee Roe were named to the Big Ten list. To be eligible for academic all-conference selection, student-athletes must be letterwinners who are in at least their second academic year at their institution and carry a cumulative grade-point average of 3.0 or higher.
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