Feb. 4, 2017
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UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - The Penn State women's gymnastics team (5-2, 2-2 Big Ten) defeated Michigan State (3-4, 0-4 Big Ten), 195.925-194.775, in a Big Ten meet Saturday afternoon inside Rec Hall. Sophomore Sabrina Garcia (Etters, Pa.) recorded a career-best 39.400 en route to her first career all-around title.
"I'm very proud of our team this week, today was the first meet we didn't count a fall all season," head coach Jeff Thompson said. "We got off to a good start on vault, not the best start, probably the event that we need to work on the most this upcoming week. Great bar routines. We went to beam; we had one of our freshman make a mistake and fall, but the girls behind her in the lineup they hit, they held her rope and we went to floor and had some great floor routines to close out the meet."
"We're pretty close to 196 which is our goal right now, so every week we're getting better, making progress, and we just need to continue to make more and more progress before Ohio State next Saturday," Thompson added.
In the all-around, Garcia edged out Nicola Deans of Michigan State for the top spot by a score of 39.400-39.375. The all-around title came down to Garcia posting a season-best score of 9.900 on the floor exercise during the final rotation, while Deans tallied a 9.850 on the balance beam.
As a team, the Nittany Lions recorded season-best scores on the uneven bars (49.125), the balance beam (48.875) and the floor exercise (49.100) en route to their season-best team score of 195.925.
Penn State opened the meet with a 48.825 on the vault, which was its second-highest score on the event this season. For the Nittany Lions on the vault, Garcia and senior Emma Sibson (Allen, Texas) tied for second-place as they each recorded a 9.850.
The Blue & White then moved to the uneven bars during the second rotation where they tallied a season-best 49.125.
On the uneven bars for the Nittany Lions, Garcia recorded another second-place finish on the day, as she and freshman Kristen Politz (Morganville, N.J.) both posted a 9.850. Also for the Blue & White on the uneven bars, senior Nicole Medvitz (Paramus, N.J.) recorded a 9.825 to tie for fourth-place.
During the third rotation, Medvitz brought home the balance beam title for the third time this season, as she recorded a 9.900. Also on the balance beam, junior Briannah Tsang (Vancouver, British Columbia) tied for second (9.850) and Garcia finished fifth with a 9.800. As a team, the Nittany Lions recorded a season-best 48.875 on the balance beam.
Penn State closed out the meet with a season-best 49.100 on the floor exercise. Garcia led the charge for the Nittany Lions on the floor exercise, as she shared the event title with Michigan State's Elena Lagoski as they each scored a 9.900. Garcia's 9.900 on the floor exercise is a season-best score and her score Saturday tied her career-best set last season at the Big Five Qualifier.
A pair of Nittany Lions also finished in the top-five on the floor exercise with Garcia, as Tsang placed third (9.875) and sophomore Peyton Schuller (Erie, Pa.) tied for fourth (9.850).
The Nittany Lions host their penultimate home meet of the season on Feb. 11 against Ohio State in a double dual format with the Penn State men's gymnastics team. The meet is slated for a 4 p.m. start inside Rec Hall.