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March 25, 2018
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - Senior Briannah Tsang (Vancouver, British Columbia) tied a career-best 9.950 on the floor exercise to tie for the event title at the 2018 Big Ten Women's Gymnastics Championships Saturday at the State Farm Center. Following the meet, Tsang was named the Big Ten Co-Gymnast of the Year.
"We showed a lot of fight tonight and finished the meet on a high note," head coach Sarah Brown said. "I'm so proud of the work this team has put in so far this year and I'm looking forward to hosting regionals on April 7."
In the team standings, No. 7 Michigan finished first (197.200), followed by No. 14 Nebraska in second (196.950) and No. 27 Illinois rounded out the top-three (196.625). No. 36 Iowa placed fourth (196.400), No. 24 Ohio State earned fifth (196.325), while No. 23 Minnesota took sixth (196.225).
No. 28 Penn State finished seventh (195.500), No. 29 Maryland took eighth (195.250), Rutgers placed ninth (194.400), and Michigan State finished 10th (194.275).
Penn State competed in the afternoon session and followed the Olympic rotation order.
The Nittany Lions opened the meet on the vault with a score of 48.750. The duo of Gianna LaGuardia (Thornton, Colo.) and Tsang led the Nittany Lions on the vault as they tied for 16th (9.800).
Penn State then went to the uneven bars where it posted a 48.825. On the uneven bars, the Nittany Lions were led by freshman Lauren Bridgens (Darnestown, Md.), as she tied for 14th with a 9.875. Along with Bridgens, sophomore Kristen Politz (Morganville, N.J.) posted a 9.825 to tie for 20th.
During the third rotation, Penn State tallied a 48.525 on the balance beam. For Penn State on the balance beam, Tsang posted a 9.800 to tie for 16th.
Despite a slow start on the day, the Nittany Lions finished the afternoon session strong with a season-best, and meet-best, 49.400 on the floor exercise.
On the floor exercise for PSU, all six Nittany Lions recorded a 9.800-or-better. Individually, Tsang tied her career-best, and the No. 5 score in program history - 9.950, to tie for the event title. Tsang shared the title with Megan Schweihofer of Nebraska. With her title on Saturday, Tsang claimed the 19th Big Ten event title in program history.
Along with Tsang, junior Sabrina Garcia (Etters, Pa.) posted a 9.900 to tie for fourth and the trio of freshman Alissa Bonsall (Higganum, Conn.), Bridgens, and junior Peyton Schuller (Erie, Pa.) all tallied a 9.850 to tie for 16th. On the floor exercise, Bonsall set a career-best score, while Garcia and Schuller tied their career-best score.
In the all-around standings, Tsang led the Nittany Lions, as she finished 12th with a 39.175.
Tsang is the sixth Nittany Lion to garner Big Ten Gymnast of the Year honors. Prior to Saturday, Penn State women's gymnastics has had five gymnasts combine for seven honors. Tsang shared the Big Ten Gymnast of the Year honor with Paige Zaziski of Michigan.
In addition to Tsang's Co-Gymnast of the Year honor, Tsang was also named to the Big Ten All-Championships Team and Garcia was named a Big Ten Sportsmanship award honoree.
The No. 28 Penn State women's gymnastics team will host one of six regional sites on April 7. The meet is slated for a 4 p.m. start at Rec Hall. The teams and participants in the University Park Regional will be announced on Monday, March 26, at 4 p.m. (EDT) on www.ncaa.com.
ALL-CHAMPIONSHIPS TEAM
Bridget Hodan, Illinois
Charlotte Sullivan, Iowa
Brianna Brown, Michigan
Lauren Marinez, Michigan
Paige Zaziski, Michigan
Ivy lu, Minnesota
Sienna Crouse, Nebraska
Taylor Houchin, Nebraska
Megan Schweihofer, Nebraska
Grace Williams, Nebraska
Olivia Aepli, Ohio State
Alexis Mattern, Ohio State
Jamie Stone, Ohio State
Briannah Tsang, Penn State
SPORTSMANSHIP AWARD HONOREES
Jordyn Givens, Illinois
Eugenia Leal, Iowa
Deanna Magro, Maryland
Olivia Karas, Michigan
Victoria (Tori) Huehn, Michigan State
Abby DeMuse, Minnesota
Kelli Chung, Nebraska
Stefanie Merkle, Ohio State
Sabrina Garcia, Penn State
Elizabeth Groden, Rutgers