Illinois Closes Out Regular Season with Season-High 196.175 at California Quad Meet

BERKELEY, Calif. – The Fighting Illini women's gymnastics team posted a season-high team score with a 196.175 on Sunday afternoon in Berkeley, Calif. inside Haas Pavilion. This also marks a season-high road score for the Orange and Blue. Illinois finished second defeating San Jose State (194.450) and Sacramento State (192.100), but falling to the 2018 NCAA Championship qualifier, the No. 16 California Golden Bears (197.575).  

"The team did a great job sticking together and keeping the momentum going for each routine," said head coach Nadalie Walsh. "I am so proud of Haylee (Roe) for her mental toughness to get back out there on three events."

The 196.175 team score marks the second 196+ for Illinois this season. The Illini also posted 49.000+ on three events for the third-time this season and second this weekend. The Orange and Blue improves to 14-11 on the year after surpassing San Jose State and Sacramento State in the quad meet tonight.

Illinois swung high on bars with a solid 48.850. All-around competitors Mary Jane Otto and Karen Howell led the way with season-highs 9.925 and 9.900, respectively. Otto tied for the bars title with California's Emi Watterson, while Howell finished third. This marks Otto's 14th career title on bars. Sophomore Lindsay Dwyer was also steady with a 9.725 to lead off the Orange and Blue.

The Illini were within striking distance of the first-place California Bears, 49.350-48.850. In the second rotation, Illinois hit their sixth consecutive 49.000+ on beam with a 49.125. Leading the way were Otto and freshman Shaylah Scott with a pair of 9.850s. Howell and senior Haylee Roe also added a pair of 9.825s to the impressive beam lineup.

Remaining in second, Illinois dazzled on floor with a 49.075. Howell led the way, placing second with a career-high 9.900. Dwyer also recorded a career-high with a 9.800, while Scott and sophomore Kylie Noonan impressed with a 9.800 and 9.825, respectively.

In the final rotation, Illinois recorded a season-high 49.125 on vault. Individually, three Illini hit career-highs, while one posted a season-high. A consistent and powerful force for the Illini, sophomore Kasey Meeks posted a 9.875 to tie for third with California's Kyana George. Dwyer (9.800), Roe (9.775), and junior Brittany Jones (9.825) all hit career-highs on the event. This was only the third time Jones competed on vault in her career. Otto also posted a season-high 9.850 to round out the rotation.

"Kasey Meeks on vault was not only leading our team with her score, but I loved hearing her take ownership over the vault team and command them confidence on the event," noted Walsh.

In the all-around, Howell and Otto tied for third in the all-around with a 39.400. The Illini duo were within striking distance of California's Maya Bordas (39.450) and Kyana George (39.425), who took the top two spots. Howell surpassed her career-best in the all-around by over a tenth.

"Mary Jane (Otto) and Karen (Howell) had an outstanding meet," said Walsh. "It is so relaxing to watch them perform on every event."

Postseason play begins this weekend when Illinois treks to Happy Valley for the Big Ten Championships hosted by Penn State on Saturday evening at Rec Hall in University Park, Pa. After placing third in the evening session of the Big Five Meet in February, the Fighting Illini earned a spot in the evening session (4 p.m. CT). The afternoon session begins at 11 a.m. CT with both sessions airing live on BTN.

"This meet is the perfect set up for us to walk united and strong into the Big Ten Championships next weekend," noted Walsh.

Illinois Notes

• Illinois records a season-high 196.175 to close out the regular season. This also marks a season-high road score for the Illini.
• The Illini records 49.000+ on three events for the third time this season and second time this weekend – 49.125 (vault and beam) and 49.075 (floor)
• Illinois redeems themselves from last Friday to record a season-high 49.125 on vault.
• The Illini hit their sixth consecutive 49.000+ on beam with a 49.125
• Junior Karen Howell earned second on floor with a career-high 9.900 and third on bars (season-high 9.900) and in the all-around (career-high 39.400).
• Redshirt senior Mary Jane Otto tied for first on bars with a season-high 9.925. She also placed third with an impressive 39.400 in the all-around and season-high on vault (9.850).
• Otto has recorded nine individual titles this season and 27th overall.
• Sophomore Lindsay Dwyer posted a pair of 9.800s on vault and floor to hit career-highs on both events.
• In her third outing on vault, junior Brittany Jones earned a career-high 9.825.
• Senior Haylee Roe returned to the vault lineup, matching a career-high 9.775.
• Sophomore Kasey Meeks tied for third on vault with a 9.875. This marks her eighth top-three finish on the event this season.

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