UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – The No. 27 Penn State Women's Gymnastics team celebrated Senior Day in a big way by winning its quad meet on Saturday in Rec Hall. The Nittany Lions posted a 196.375, its second-highest of the year, and posted season highs on bars and floor. Penn State is now 8-7 in dual meets this season.
After the meet, the Nittany Lions honored the program's six seniors: Amber Autry, Sabrina Garcia, Mason Hosek, Jessica Jones, Gianna LaGuardia and manager Peyton Schuller.
The Nittany Lions opened the meet by posting a 49.050 on vault to win the event. It was PSU's third vault score above a 49.000 this season. In her last regular season vault at Rec Hall, LaGuardia posted a season high and career high-tying 9.875, which placed her second in the event. Sophomore Lauren Bridgens finished right behind in third, with a 9.850, while sophomore Alissa Bonsall and Garcia tied for sixth with a 9.800. Freshman Melissa Astarita and sophomore Kourtney Chinnery both registered a 9.725.
Arizona State finished with a 49.025, led by Morgan Wilson's event-winning 9.900. Cornell collected a 48.550, paced by Donna Webster's 9.850, good for third place, while Yale had a 48.400, led by Alyssa Firth's 9.775.
Penn State dominated on bars, winning the event by .300, with a 49.300. That set PSU's season high and was its highest since a 49.300 at the BYU Quad Meet on March 9, 2018. It was PSU's sixth bars performance above a 49.000. Garcia led the Nittany Lions with a 9.900, good for second on the event. Bonsall placed third overall with a 9.875, while Chinnery set a career-high with a 9.850, finishing fourth. Bridgens matched Chinnery's score to tie for fourth and junior Kristen Politz recorded a 9.825 to place seventh. Junior Tess McCracken tallied a 9.800 to come in eighth. In Senior Day exhibitions, Autry earned a 9.55 and Jones recorded a 9.15.
The Sun Devils recorded a 49.000, paced by Cairo Leonard-Baker's 9.925, which won the event. The Big Red finished with a 48.525, led by Lyanda Dudley's 9.800. The Bulldogs earned a 48.075, led by Jessica Wang's 9.850.
The blue and white registered a 48.675 on beam. Bridgens topped the Nittany Lions with a 9.825, placing second overall. Freshman Jessie Bastardi and McCracken each earned a 9.775, tying for 10th. Hosek recorded a 9.750 for her senior day performance. Politz had a 9.550 and Garcia registered a 9.150. In another Senior Day exhibition, LaGuardia scored a 9.025.
Yale won on beam with a 48.975, led by Jacey Baldovino's event-winning 48.975. Arizona State scored a 48.900 with Anne Kuhm's 9.800 leading the squad. Cornell recordeda 48.550, paced by Payton Murphy's 9.825.
The Nittany Lions bounced back for its strongest floor performance of the season. Penn State earned its sixth floor tally above a 49.000 this year with a 49.350. That was PSU's highest on floor since the 2018 Big Ten Championships (49.400). Penn State collected three career highs and tied two others. Astarita claimed her second floor title of the season with a 9.900, matching her career-best. Bonsall and Bridgens tied for third overall with a 9.875, both earning career highs. Hosek matched a career-best with a 9.850, while McCracken set a career high with a 9.850. Garcia closed out the rotation with a 9.825.
The Sun Devils earned a 49.225 on floor as Corinne Belkoff tied for the event title with a 9.900. The Big Red totaled a 48.950 as Morgan Chall and Izzy Herczeg tied for the team-lead with a 9.875. Yale recorded a 48.650, paced by a 9.775 by Kiarra Alleyne and Firth.
Bridgens claimed her third all-around title and the sixth of her career. The sophomore posted a 39.400, her third all-around score of a 39.400 or above this season. Garcia totaled a 38.675, while ASU's Kuhm recorded a 39.150 and Yale's Jade Buford had a 38.750.
The Nittany Lions travel to No. 3 Florida next Friday for a 6:45 p.m. meet at the Stephen O'Connell Center. The meet will be broadcasted on SEC Network+.
Senior Mason Hosek