Feb. 23, 2013
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - The No. 24 Penn State women's gymnastics team tied their season-high score of 196.700 in a 196.700-196.000 victory against the Michigan State Spartans on Saturday night in Rec Hall. Penn State's team score is the highest home score posted since March 4, 2011, when the team mark was a 197.075
"I told the team just before we came out of the locker room that Michigan State was a lot like we were earlier in the season," said head coach Jeff Thompson. "If we put it all together, we are a good team. We came out fired up, maybe a little too much. We exceeded our goals tonight. We fought hard and did what we do in practice every day, which is hitting routines. The best part is we have room for improvement on every event and believe 197 is a realistic goal by the time we get into championship season."
The Nittany Lions tied their season-high score of 196.700, which was set just one week ago when the team was visiting Michigan. Additionally, Penn State posted season-high scores on uneven bars and floor exercise. Senior Sharaya Musser (Colorado Springs, Colo.) took home the all-around title with a season-high score of 39.575. Junior Kassidy Stauder (Palmerton, Pa.) also competed, and finished tied for third place with a 39.075. A total of five Nittany Lions set career-highs, while many others set season-bests.
Penn State began the evening on vault posting a team score of 48.950. Musser posted a 9.850 followed by freshman Samantha Musto (Mays Landing, N.J.) who posted a 9.825. Senior Madison Merriam (Gaithersburg, Md.) had a mark of 9.800. Sophomore Lexi Carroll (Olney, Md.) posted a 9.750 and junior Sidney Sanabria-Robles (Caguas, Puerto Rico) checked in at 9.725.
The Nittany Lions were outstanding on uneven bars scoring a season-high team total of 49.350. Merriam posted a career-high mark of 9.950 to lead the Lions. Musser followed right behind with a season-high 9.925. Musto posted a 9.875. Stauder and sophomore Krystal Welsh (Bowie, Md.) each posted marks of 9.800 to round out the event.
On the balance beam Penn State finished with a team score of 49.075, their second-best beam total of the season. Musser posted a 9.925, tying her season-high, to lead the way for the Nittany Lions. Musto and Sanabria-Robles followed with marks of 9.825, which served as a career-high for Sanabria-Robles. Stauder and Welsh each finished with scores of 9.750.
The Nittany Lions finished the evening on the floor exercise with a season-high team score of 49.275. Musser and Carroll led the Lions with scores of 9.875, a career high for Carroll. Stauder and Musgrove each checked in with marks of 9.850, which was a career-high mark for Stauder. Merriam rounded out the event with a mark of 9.825.
Penn State will be back in action next Saturday at Illinois for a 4 p.m. dual with the Fighting Illini. The Lions return home on March 9 to take on New Hampshire, Temple, and Penn at 4 p.m. in Rec Hall. All tickets can be purchased by calling Penn State Athletics at 1-800-NITTANY or by visiting the Athletic Ticket Office inside the Bryce Jordan Center.
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