UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – The No. 25 Penn State women's gymnastics team earned a 196.125 on Saturday night in the evening session of the Big Ten Championships to finish fifth overall. The Nittany Lions collected scores of 49.275 on both floor and bars.
Michigan won its sixth straight Big Ten title with a 197.400. Illinois placed second with a 196.650 followed by Nebraska's 196.550. Minnesota finished fourth with a 196.425 and Iowa placed behind the Nittany Lions with a 196.075.
Competing in session 1, Ohio State collected a 195.775 followed by Michigan State's 195.425. Maryland recorded a 194.800 and Rutgers registered a 194.175.
In its first rotation on floor, Penn State earned a 49.275. That was PSU's eighth 49 or above of the season. Sophomore Alissa Bonsall, sophomore Lauren Bridgens and freshman Melissa Astarita each earned a 9.875, all tying for 14th overall. Bonsall and Bridgens both tied their career highs. Senior Mason Hosek also tied her career-best with a 9.850, while junior Erynne Allen secured a career-best 9.800. Senior Sabrina Garcia finished with a 9.675.
On floor, Michigan paced the field with a 49.450. Minnesota collected a 49.350, while Michigan State and Nebraska each earned a 49.300. The Wolverines' Natalie Wojcik won the event with a 9.950. Teammate Olivia Karas and Minnesota's Paige Williams tied for second with tallies of 9.925.
The Nittany Lions moved onto vault for their second rotation, tallying a 48.775. Bonsall led the Nittany Lions with a 9.800, finishing 13th in the event. Senior Gianna LaGuardia recorded a 9.775, while Bridgens registered a 9.750. Astarita matched sophomore Kourtney Chinnery with scores of 9.725. Garcia collected a 9.675.
The Wolverines claimed the team vault title with a 49.275, followed by Minnesota's 49.050 and Illinois' 48.950. Michigan took the top three individual spots with Emma McLean earning the event title with a 9.900. Karas and Wojcik tied for second with scores of 9.875.
Following a bye in the third rotation, the blue and white competed on bars, claiming a 49.275. That was the Nittany Lions' ninth score of 49 or higher on bars this season. Bridgens paced the blue and white with a 9.925, tying her season high and tying for fourth overall. Three Nittany Lions earned a score of 9.850. Junior Kristen Politz set a new season-best, while Bonsall and Garcia each achieved a 9.850, all placing 15th. Junior Tess McCracken led off the lineup with a 9.800, while Chinnery recorded a 9.700.
Minnesota won the bars event, scoring a 49.425, led by Ivy Lu's 9.950, which tied for second overall. Michigan finished second with a 49.375, while Nebraska secured third with a 49.325. Illinois' Mary Jane Otto won the event with a 9.975. Lu was matched by Nebraska's Taylor Houchin.
The Nittany Lions ended the night with a 48.800 on beam. Three Nittany Lions collected a 9.800 or better. After sophomore Ava Verdeflor led off with a 9.725 and Politz recorded a 9.600, Hosek earned a 9.800. Following a 9.650 by McCracken, freshman Jessie Bastardi tallied a 9.800. Bridgens finished the rotation with a 9.825, placing 15th.
The Wolverines also won the beam event with a 49.300. Illinois came in second, with a 49.275, and Nebraska finished third with a 49.025. Minnesota's Lexy Ramler paced the event with a 9.925. Karas, Wojcik, Otto and Nebraska's Crouse all tied for second with scores of 9.900.
Bridgens finished her night in all-around with a 39.350, good for seventh overall. The Gopher's Ramler and the Wolverines' Karas and Wojcik all tied for the all-around title with a 39.600 total.
The Nittany Lions will wait to find out their destination for NCAA Regionals. Penn State will compete at a regional on April 4-6.
Sophomore Lauren Bridgens