ANN ARBOR, Mich. – Freshman Jessie Bastardi and senior Sabrina Garcia tied for the top scores in beam and bars, respectively, to help the No. 23 Penn State women's gymnastics team to a 195.750 on Friday in Session I of the NCAA Regional in Ann Arbor. The Nittany Lions placed third among teams in the meet, behind No. 10 Alabama (197.225), No. 7 Michigan (196.950), and above No. 26 Ohio State (194.725).
"Today was a good, solid day for us," said Head Coach Sarah Brown. "We were a little tight at the beginning of the meet and weren't as sharp as we could have been, but we fought hard to finish the meet strong on bars and beam. I'm so proud of this senior group for finishing the year on a high note and working so hard this season."
The Nittany Lions began the afternoon on floor, posting a 48.850. The blue and white was led on floor by Garcia's 9.850, which placed third in the meet. She was followed by freshman Melissa Astarita and senior Mason Hosek, who each recorded a 9.800. Sophomore Alissa Bonsall registered a 9.725, while sophomore Lauren Bridgens collected a 9.675. Sophomore Kourtney Chinnery had a 9.500
Alabama earned the top team score on floor with a 49.425. Michigan recorded a 49.125 and Ohio State scored a 48.850. The Wolverines' Natalie Wojcik collected the top score in the event with a 9.925.
Penn State moved on to vault, where it recorded a 48.650. Chinnery paced the Nittany Lions with a 9.850, finishing ninth in the meet. Bonsall tallied a 9.750 while Astarita and Garcia each recorded a 9.700. Senior Gianna LaGuardia recorded a 9.650, while Bridgens had a 9.600
The Wolverines registered the meet's top team score on vault, securing a 49.425. Alabama's Ariana Guerra and Wojcik tied for the top score, achieving a 9.925. Alabama totaled a 49.225 and Ohio State tallied a 49.175.
The blue and white competed on bars in its third rotation, tallying a 49.125. PSU earned its 10th bars score of 49.100 or above this season. Garcia earned the top individual score in the meet with a 9.900, her fifth 9.900 or better on bars this year. Bonsall and Bridgens tied for seventh in the meet with a 9.850, while junior Tess McCracken recorded a 9.775. Junior Kristen Politz earned a 9.750 and Chinnery finished with a 9.725.
Alabama recorded a 49.350 on bars, while Michigan and Ohio State tied with a 49.050. Alabama's Shea Mahoney and Michigan's Olivia Karas matched Garcia's 9.900 to tie for the event lead.
The Nittany Lions concluded the meet on beam, where it earned a 49.125, its fifth 49.000 or better on beam this year. Bastardi secured a 9.900, the highest individual beam score in the meet. It was her third 9.900 or above on beam this season. McCracken placed fourth in the meet on beam, with a 9.875, while Bridgens finished ninth with a 9.850. Hosek registered a 9.775 and sophomore Ava Verdeflor recorded a 9.725, while Politz had a 9.025.
The Wolverines led the event with a 49.350, while Alabama posted a 49.225 and the Buckeyes recorded a 47.650. Alabama's Emily Gaskins and Michigan's Karas tied Bastardi with a 9.900.
In all-around, Bridgens finished with a 38.975, placing fourth in the meet. The Wolverines' Wojcik won the all-around competition with a 39.550. The Tide's Lexi Graber finished second with a 39.100 and Ohio State's Danica Abanto registered a 39.075 to place third.
Senior Sabrina Garcia tied for the meet-best score on bars