CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Fighting Illini women's gymnastics broke two program records on Saturday afternoon in their win over No. 7 Minnesota.

"It's so exciting, said head coach Nadalie Walsh. "We talk about how they are the class of athletes that can break records, I'm really so proud of them. They absolutely deserve it."

Their 197.575 is the best all-around score in Illinois history, the previous record was a 197.300 that came at the 2015 Big Ten Championships. Illinois also broke the all-time beam scores with their 49.525 on the event.

The team hit top ten score on every other event. Their vault score, 49.200 was their best of the season and tied for seventh best in program history. They scored a 49.425 on bars, tied for third best all-time. They finished their record setting day on floor, putting up another 49.425, tying them for fifth-best in program history.

Several Illini hit career-bests today. Senior Nicole Biondi scored three highs. Starting on vault where she stuck the landing to score a 9.900. Next came on bars where she put up a 9.925. Finally she scored her career-best all-around scored a 39.525.

"Usually, we aren't the team to look up at the scoreboard during meets so look up at the last minute and feel all that joy at the same time, together was just super exciting, said Nicole Biondi."

Mia Townes hit a career-best on each of her three events. Her 9.925 on vault is tied for fifth best in program history. On beam she scored 9.875 followed by another 9.925 on floor.

Shaylah Scott scored a new career-high, 9.950 on beam, putting her tied for second on the all-time list. She followed by tying her career-high 9.925 on floor.

In her competition debut on bars, Amelia Knight scored a 9.95 tying her for third in program history on the event. On beam, Rachel Borden scored a career high 9.875 after tying her career high 9.850 on bars

Up Next

The Illini head to Minneapolis this week for the Big Ten Championships. The meet is set for  Saturday, March 20.