UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – The No. 24 Penn State women's gymnastics team travels to Toledo, Ohio this weekend for the annual Big Five Meet, where they will compete against four Big Ten foes: No. 15 Nebraska, No. 32 Maryland, No. 40 Iowa and Michigan State. The meet will be livestreamed on FloGymnastics.
Last weekend, the Nittany Lions, led by Head Coach Sarah Brown, totaled a 194.750 against No. 8 Michigan, but the Wolverines tallied a 197.075.
Sabrina Garcia had PSU's top score in all-around (39.150) and on bars (9.825). Lauren Bridgens earned the Nittany Lions' top performance on vault (9.825) and floor (9.825), finishing third on floor. Mason Hosek's 9.850 was PSU's top score on beam.
Lat weekend, No. 15 Nebraska earned a 196.400 win over No. 22 Ohio State. No. 32 Maryland fell 196.850-195.325 against No. 14 Minnesota, while No. 40 Iowa dropped a 195.650-195.400 decision against No. 34 Illinois. Michigan State claimed a 195.425-194.100 victory over Rutgers.
Follow the action on our social media pages on Facebook (PennStateWomensGymnastics) and Twitter/Instagram (@pennstatewgym).
SCOUTING THE BIG FIVE OPPONENTS
Nebraska is ranked 15th in the nation, averaging a 195.975 with a 4-3 record (3-2 Big Ten).
The Cornhuskers rank 21st in the nation on vault (48.889 average), 15th on bars (49.036), 13th on beam (48.968) and 15th on floor (49.082). Sienna Crouse sits 24th in the country in all-around, 27th on vault and 50th on floor. Taylor Houchin is 37th in all-around and 16th on bars, while Megan Schweihofer is 30th on beam.
Maryland is ranked 32nd in the country, averaging a 194.813 with a 5-3 mark (2-3 Big Ten). The Terrapins are 34th in the nation on vault (48.717), 18th on bars (49.004), 43rd on beam (48.408) and 42nd on floor (48.683). Audrey Barber is Maryland's top performer in all-around, averaging a 38.854.
Iowa ranks 40th in the RoadToNationals standings, averaging a 194.488. The Hawkeyes rank 51st on vault (48.363), 30th on bars (48.688) and 33rd on floor (48.859). In all-around, Meaghan Sievers holds 49th in the nation (39.046).
Michigan State sits 43rd in the RoadToNationals rankings, averaging a 194.332. The Spartans ranks 29th in the country on vault (48.786), 48th on bars (48.336), 51st on beam (48.186) and 20th on floor (49,025). Drew Hendershot is 31st in the nation on floor.
MICHIGAN MEET RECAP
The Nittany Lions met the Wolverines for its final Big Ten home dual of the season. No. 24 Penn State totaled a 194.750, but No. 8 Michigan tallied a 197.075.
Penn State scored a 48.900 on vault, led by Lauren Bridgens' 9.825, which was good for fifth on the event. Kourtney Chinnery, Sabrina Garcia and Gianna LaGuardia all tied for seventh with a 9.775.
On bars, PSU tallied a 48.325, paced by Garcia's 9.825. Kristen Politz recorded a 9.775 in her first bars routine of the season.
The blue and white registered a 48.675 on beam. Mason Hosek recorded a team-best 9.850 to place fourth. Garcia had a 9.800.
On floor, PSU collected a 48.850, led by Bridgens' third-place 9.825. Chinnery contributed a 9.800.
Garcia had PSU's top all-around total with a 39.150.
BASTARDI HONORED BY BIG TEN
Jessie Bastardi was named the Big Ten Freshman of the Week on February 11 for her efforts at Rutgers.
Bastardi earned a career-high 9.925 on beam against the Scarlet Knights to tie with McCracken to win the event title on beam, her first career event title. Bastardi and McCracken are tied for PSU's highest score on beam this season.
Bastardi is currently averaging a 9.754 on beam, good for 19th in the Big Ten. Her score of 9.925 is tied for the fourth-best in the Big Ten this year. She also had a 9.900 on beam against Minnesota on January 26.
SETTING THE BAR
Penn State is off to a strong start on bars this season, ranking 19th in the nation.
The Nittany Lions scored a 49.100 against Illinois, its fourth straight week above a 49.000, before snapping the streak at Rutgers.
PSU had a season-best 49.250 against Minnesota on January 26, a 49.175 vs. Ohio State (1/19) and a 49.125 against Temple and Towson (1/12).
Senior Sabrina Garcia has PSU's top score on bars, a career-high 9.950 against Ohio State. Sophomore Lauren Bridgens had a season-best 9.900 against Minnesota, while junior Tess McCracken had a career-high 9.900 vs. Ohio State.
STRONG ON FLOOR
The Nittany Lions have enjoyed a solid year on floor, also achieving a 49.000 or above in four consecutive weeks before breaking the streak against Rutgers.
Freshman Melissa Astarita holds the blue and white's top mark on floor with a 9.900 against Temple and Towson. Garcia's season-best 9.875 came against Illinois, while Alissa Bonsall, Lauren Bridgens and Kourtney Chinnery have all contributed a 9.850.
AMONG THE NATION'S BEST SCORES
The Nittany Lions' 196.775 against Minnesota is one of the top scores in the nation this season and in the history of the program.
The 196.775 is tied for the 11th-best overall score in program history. It was also the Nittany Lions' highest score within the first four meets of the season, bettering a 196.300 against Maryland in 2005.
PSU has the 17th-best season high in the nation and the fourth-best in the Big Ten behind only Nebraska (197.250), Minnesota (196.925) and Michigan (197.350).
The Nittany Lions' 49.250 on bars in the 19th-best season-high on bars in the nation and its 49.275 on floor is tied for the 22nd-best season-high in the country. Their 49.350 on beam, at Rutgers, is tied for the 13th-best season-high.
NATIONALLY RANKED NITS
As a team, Penn State currently ranks 19th in the nation on bars, with a 48.971 average, and 23rd on beam, with a 48.807 average.
On bars, Garcia is tied for 29th in the nation and ranks fifth in the Big Ten with a 9.864 average. She is also tied for 64th in the nation and 11th in the conference on floor with a 9.846 average.
In all-around, Garcia sits seventh in the Big Ten, owning a 39.075 average, while Bridgens is right behind with a 39.038 average.
BALANCED EFFORT
Penn State has achieved a 49.000 or higher in all four events so far this season.
The Nittany Lions have a 49.025 on vault, a four scores over 49.100 on bars, a 49.000, 49.225 and 49.350 on beam and four 49.000 or above scores on floor.
The Nittany Lions also have a different high-scoring athlete for each event.
Sophomore Lauren Bridgens has the team's top vault (9.900), while senior Sabrina Garcia owns the team's top bars performance (9.950).
Freshman Jessie Bastardi and junior Tess McCracken share the team's top beam effort (9.925) and freshman Melissa Astarita has the team's top floor score (9.900).
Sophomore Lauren Bridgens has the top all-around score with a 39.525.
EVENT TITLES
As a team, Penn State has won 11 event titles this season. PSU has won four titles on floor, winning four straight before the streak ended at Rutgers. The Nittany Lions also have three titles on bars and four titles on beam. The Nittany Lions have won 11 individual event titles.
Senior Sabrina Garcia has earned five individual titles this year, including bars against Temple/Towson (9.900) and Ohio State (9.950) as well as a floor title (9.875) and all-around title (39.250) against Illinois (39.250) and all-around at Rutgers (39.325).
Sophomore Lauren Bridgens has won two: all-around against Ohio State (39.300) and vault against Minnesota (9.900).
Freshman Melissa Astarita won the floor title against Temple/Towson (9.900) and sophomore Alissa Bonsall won a bars title against Illinois (9.850). Freshman Jessie Bastardi and junior Tess McCracken tied for the beam title at Rutgers (9.925).
CHALLENGING SCHEDULE
Heading into the weekend, the Nittany Lions are set to compete in meets against 13 opponents among the Top 40 of the RoadToNationals standings during the 2019 season. The Nittany Lions already competed against No. 5 Utah, No. 32 Temple, No. 17 Ohio State, No. 22 Minnesota, No. 34 Illinois and No. 8 Michigan.
PSU is set to compete against No. 3 Florida, No. 15 Nebraska, No. 20 Arizona State, No. 22 Ohio State, No. 26 West Virginia, No. 27 NC State, No. 32 Maryland and No. 40 Iowa.
BIG TEN CHAMPIONSHIPS
For the first time since 2014, the Nittany Lions will host the Big Ten Championships at Rec Hall.
On March 23, Penn State will welcome the rest of the Big Ten for two sessions, with the first at noon and the second at 5 p.m.
NEXT UP
The Nittany Lions hosts No. 19 Arizona State, Cornell and Yale for a Quad Meet on Saturday, March 2. The meet will begin at 4 p.m. The Nittany Lions will celebrate Senior Day.
Sophomore Tess McCracken