CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – No. 22 Penn State Women's Gymnastics won three team event titles on its way to its first Big Ten win of the season, defeating No. 34 Illinois, 195.275-193.500. The Nittany Lions topped the Illini on bars, beam and floor, scoring above a 49.000 on bars and floor for the fourth straight week. Senior Sabrina Garcia won her first all-around title of the season and added a floor title. Sophomore Alissa Bonsall tied for the event title on bars. The Nittany Lions improved to 3-3 in dual meets.
Penn State earned its first dual meet win over Illinois since 2014 and its first road dual meet win against the Illini since 2013.
"I was proud of the fight and the energy we brought to the meet tonight, all of our athletes fought the whole night and that gives us a lot of confidence going forward," said Head Coach Sarah Brown. "We earned a big win on the road. We showed a lot of improvement on our handstands and landings after our work this week. Sabrina showed great leadership and Lauren hit again on all-around tonight. All of this came after our flights coming in were cancelled and we had a 13.5-hour bus ride here, but our group wasn't phased and still showed up tonight and competed. I think that shows the growth and maturity of our team."
The Nittany Lions claimed the bars title with a 49.100, its fourth straight meet above a 49 on bars. Sophomore Alissa Bonsall led the blue and white with a season-best 9.850, tying for her first career event win on bars. Fellow sophomore Lauren Bridgens and senior Sabrina Garcia each registered a 9.825 as the pair tied for third. Juniors Erynne Allen and Tess McCracken both earned a 9.800 as Allen collected a career-high, tying for fifth. Sophomore Ava Verdeflor had a 9.725.
The Illini recorded a 48.600 on bars, led by junior Karen Howell's 9.850, which tied with Bonsall for the event lead.
Penn State totaled a 48.650 on vault, being narrowly edged by Illinois' 48.825. Senior Gianna LaGuardia led PSU with a 9.775, placing third overall. Sophomore Kourtney Chinnery tied with Bridgens and Garcia for fifth with the trio each recording a 9.750. Bonsall registered a 9.625 while freshman Melissa Astarita had a 9.550.
Illinois was paced on vault by sophomore Kasey Meeks' 9.825, which won the event. Sophomore Nicole Biondi finished second with a 9.800 and junior Lindsay Dwyer tied with LaGuardia for third.
The blue and white collected a 49.075 on floor, its fourth straight 49 on floor, to win that event. Garcia topped the Nittany Lions with a 9.875, matching her season-high, and won her first floor title this year. It's Garcia's third career floor title. Bridgens tallied a 9.850, tying her career-high for the second straight week to place second. Chinnery came in fourth overall with a 9.825. Astarita registered a 9.775 and senior Mason Hosek added a 9.750 in her first official floor routine of the year. Bonsall contributed a 9.700.
The Illini finished with a 48.850, led by senior Haylee Roe's 9.850, matching Bridgens for second.
Penn State earned its third event win of the evening on beam, topping Illinois, 48.450-47.225. Garcia paced the blue and white and finished second with a 9.800. Bridgens and junior Kristen Politz tied for fourth with a 9.725 and McCracken came in sixth with a 9.700. Freshman Jessie Bastardi recorded a 9.500 while Hosek had a 9.275.
Illinois was led on beam by freshman Shaylah Scott's 9.825, which won the event. Howell placed third with a 9.775.
Garcia claimed her first all-around title of the year and the third of her career with a 39.250. She joins Bridgens with one all-around title each this year. Bridgens had a 39.150 on the day to place third, while Illinois' Howell took second with a 39.175.
The Nittany Lions travels to Rutgers next Saturday, February 9 for another Big Ten road meet. The 7 p.m. meet will be on BTN2Go. The Scarlet Knights are currently ranked No. 56 in the RoadToNationals standings.
Senior Sabrina Garcia won all-around and floor on Saturday