SEATTLE, Wash. – Illinois women's gymnastics scored a 197.375 at NCAA Regionals on Thursday night. It was their highest score of the season and the second highest score in program history. Their performance was not enough to advance to the regional final however as Stanford and #4 Utah finished in the top two spots. Seniors Mallory Mizuki and Rachel Borden completed their Illini careers tonight both contributing to Illinois bars and beam score.
"This team had the meet of their life tonight and did a phenomenal job. The energy was great, the unity was great, and the gymnastics was great," said head coach Nadalie Walsh. "That's just sports, we just came up a tiny bit short and the last thing I want them to do is play the should have, could have game with themselves. They got the second highest-score in program history and they had a heck of a season. I am so so proud of them."
After the first rotation all four teams were separated by .100 of a point with the Illini leading. Illinois began on their best event and tied their second best bars score of the season with a 49.00. Amelia Knight and Mia Takekawa highlighted the lineup with a 9.90 and 9.950.
The Illini carried momentum to beam where they scored a 49.375, tied for sixth best in program history. They scored three 9.90s on the event from Knight, Takekawa and Mia Townes. Illinois finished the second rotation tied for the lead. Illinois then scored a 49.300 on floor with freshman Ruthuja Nataraj scoring a team-high 9.875.
Heading into the final rotation the any of the four teams had the chance to advance. Townes tied her career-high with a 9.925 on her Yurchenko 1.5 and Aryah Simons finished her season with a 9.90. Takekawa scored a 9.850 to finish the meet with an all-around score of 39.550, tied for eighth best in Illini history.
Both Mia Townes' and Mia Takekawa's individual scores give them the chance to qualify for Nationals in Fort Worth. Townes' 9.925 tied for the best on vault while Takekawa's 9.950 tied for the best on bars at the Regional. Individual qualifiers will be announced following Regional finals on Saturday night.
