CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Illinois women's gymnastics narrowly won against Maryland to earn their first victory of the season, 195.075-194.950 during their Big Ten opener on Saturday afternoon in Huff Hall. The Illini recovered from an early deficit before dazzling the home crowd with their floor exercise routines to clinch the victory.
"I think they did a great job of staying in the meet physically and mentally until the very end," said head coach Nadalie Walsh. "It wasn't our best vault rotation, but that is a very easy fix for us. I am confident moving forward they will be able to put everything together."
After falls on vault, Illinois trailed Maryland after the first rotation, 48.225-49.100. The Illini kept closing the gap on the Terrapins every rotation. Heading into the last event, the Orange and Blue were within a tenth from victory. The team's season-best 49.125 on floor helped Illinois clinch the win.
Illinois was dominant in the individual standings, almost sweeping the competition by winning three out of the four events, along with the all-around. Leading the Illinois effort was Big Ten gymnast to watch Karen Howell, who returned to all four events to clinch the all-around title with a career-high 39.125. The last time the junior competed in the all-around was during her freshman year at the 2017 Big Ten Championships. Howell also tied a career-best on vault with a 9.725, last met at Denver (with Illinois State) on Feb. 26, 2017.
Junior Rae Balthazor earned her first vault title of her career, tying a season-best 9.800. Redshirt senior Mary Jane Otto earned back-to-back bars titles this season, recording a 9.875 tying Maryland's Alecia Farina for the top spot. The last time Otto earned consecutive titles was in 2017 when she won the Big Five and Big Ten bars titles during her redshirt junior year. For the first time in her career, sophomore Kylie Noonan won back-to-back event titles, winning floor with an impressive 9.875.
Starting the meet on vault, Balthazor led the way with a season-high 9.825. Howell, Otto, and sophomore Lindsay Dwyer each added 9.725s, with Howell tying a career-best. After two falls at the end of the lineup, the Illini's 48.225 left them with a huge deficit going into the second rotation.
In a total team effort, Illinois keeps making strides on bars as all six gymnasts hit their routines. The 49.050 was the first time the Illini hit the 49 mark on bars this season. Otto tied a season-high 9.875, while Balthazor overcame her early season struggles on the event, recording a season-best 9.850. Dwyer, sophomore Nicole Biondi, and senior Rachael Donovan each scored 9.775. This marked a season-high for Donovan as she continues to cement her spot in the lineup.
"It was outstanding to see our bars team hit more handstands and be more confident," noted Walsh.
Illinois earned a solid 48.675 to close the gap on Maryland. Biondi, Howell, and senior Haylee Roe each earned 9.800s on the event, while also earning season-highs.
Going into the last rotation, the title was within grasp as Illinois followed Maryland by a mere one-tenth, 145.950-146.050. The Orange and Blue capped off the meet with high-energy and powerful tumbling for a season-high 49.125 with four Illini posting scores of 9.8+. The always entertaining, Noonan anchored the lineup with an impressive 9.875. Howell posted a season-best 9.850, while Roe and freshman Shaylah Scott led the Illini off-strong with a pair of 9.825s. This marked a season-high for Roe and career-high for Scott.
Up next the Illini hit the road to face Big Ten opponent No. 15 Nebraska in Lincoln, Neb. on Saturday, Jan. 26. The meet is slated for a 7 pm CT start and will be streaming live on HuskersNside. Assistant coach Jessie DeZiel is a former husker, where she finished her career as nine-time All-American and earned 61 career titles. At last season's Big Five Meet, the Illini knocked off the Huskers who went on to compete in the last Super Six at the NCAA Championships.
"I expect next Saturday the girls will be very hungry and know every single landing is going to count," said Walsh. "Going into the arena with Nebraska, they will have to bring their A game and not let anything intimidate them. The girls are going to be very fierce and know what to expect from themselves."
Illini Notes
- The Illini came from behind to earn their first victory of the season, 195.075-194.950 over Maryland.
- This marked the first meet this season that the Illini posted 49+ on two or more events – 49.050 (bars) and 49.125 (floor).
- Posted season-high event totals on bars and floor with a 49.050 and 49.125, respectively.
- The Illini went six-for-six in the bars lineup, leading to the first time the Illini hit the 49 mark on the event this season.
- An event away from a sweep, the Orange and Blue captured four out of the five individual titles – junior Rae Balthazor on vault, redshirt senior Mary Jane Otto on bars, sophomore Kylie Noonan on floor, and junior Karen Howell in the all-around.
- Howell returned to the all-around with a career-high 39.125. The last time Howell competed in the all-around was during her freshman year at the 2017 Big Ten Championships.
- Marked the first time since the 2017 Big Five Meet and Big Ten Championships that Otto won back-to-back titles.
- For a career first, sophomore Kylie Noonan won back-to-back event titles, winning floor at the past two meets.
- Competing on vault for the first time this season, junior Karen Howell tied a career-high 9.725 on vault.
- Four Illini posting scores of 9.8 or higher – Howell (9.850), Noonan (9.875), Roe (9.825), and freshman Shaylah Scott (9.825). Scott's score marked a career-high for the newcomer.
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