March 15, 2013
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - The 16th ranked Penn State women's gymnastics team (12-5, 4-3) will join the men's team in hosting a double dual on Saturday night in Rec Hall at 7 p.m. The women will take on the University of Kentucky while the men host Michigan. It will be senior night, as Madison Merriam (Gaithersburg, Md.) and Sharaya Musser (Colorado Springs, Colo.) will be recognized immediately following the meet.
All tickets can be purchased by calling Penn State Athletics at 1-800-NITTANY, by visiting the Athletic Ticket Office inside the Bryce Jordan Center or by purchasing tickets at the gate. Additionally, fans that cannot make the meet but are interested in following can view via a link on GoPSUsports.com. Also, follow @PennStateWGYM for updates.
"What Maddie and Sharaya have brought to this program since we arrived here three years ago has been amazing," said head coach Jeff Thompson. "When we showed up as a new staff, they immediately welcomed us and they wanted to try new things that we wanted to try.
Last weekend, Penn State put up its highest score of 196.975 since March 4, 2011 against N.C. State to take first place in their quad meet with Temple, Penn and New Hampshire in Rec Hall. Finishing in second was New Hampshire at 194.225, followed by Penn (193) and Temple (189.650). Musser won the all-around title with an impressive mark of 39.525. Musser capped off the meet with an impressive 9.925 showing on floor. Four Nittany Lions posted 9.9 or better on the floor and sophomore Lexi Carroll (Olney, Md.) and junior Lindsay Musgrove (League City, Texas) each posted career-highs. Carroll put up a mark of 9.925 while Musgrove finished with a 9.9. Merriam earned an impressive 9.925 as well to match her career-best.
The Nittany Lions currently rank 16th nationally on the vault, 15th on the uneven bars, 18th on balance beam and 12th on floor. Meanwhile, Musser is the seventh ranked gymnast nationally in the RQS rankings and fourth on the balance beam.
The 19th ranked Wildcats of Kentucky have earned a mark of 196 or better in their past three meets. Kentucky (7-4-1, 3-3-1 SEC) are currently ranked 14th on the balance beam and 19th on the uneven bars nationally. Audrey Harrison currently sits 20th in the national all-around rankings and is tied for the SEC conference lead in all-around titles with seven this season.
Penn State is 11-1 all-time in meets vs. the Wildcats. Overall, the Nittany Lion program is 46-79 vs. opponents from a very competitive Southeast Conference.
For complete coverage of Penn State women's gymnastics, please visit http://www.GoPSUsports.com/sports/w-gym.
Follow Penn State women's gymnastics on Twitter: @PennStateWGYM.
Follow Penn State women's gymnastics on Facebook: www.facebook.com/PSUWomensGymnastics.