UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – The No. 35 Penn State women's gymnastics team earned a season-best 196.275 in a win over No. 32 Iowa on Saturday at Rec Hall. The Hawkeyes tallied a 193.675. Penn State earned individual event titles in all five events and recorded a season-high 49.375 on floor. The Nittany Lions picked up their first regular season win over Iowa since 2016.
Junior Lauren Bridgens captured the all-around title with a season-high 39.400, including a career-high and event win-tying 9.950 on floor. Her 9.950 on floor is tied for the fifth-highest score in program history and is Penn State's highest since Briannah Tsang's 9.950 on March 24, 2018 at the Big Ten Championships. Bridgens' 9.950 is also tied for the fifth-best floor score in the nation and the top score in the Big Ten this season.
Fellow junior Alissa Bonsall tied for the vault title (9.825) and won the bars (9.900) title, matching career highs on each. Freshman Cassidy Rushlow claimed the beam title with her first career 9.900.
Penn State's 49.375 total on floor is the program's highest since a 49.400 at the 2018 Big Ten Championships. The 49.375 is the highest floor total in the Big Ten this season, topping Maryland and Minnesota's 49.275.
After the meet, Bridgens was presented with the Ann Carr Award. The award is given to the gymnast who provides the most inspirational performance at each Penn State home meet. It is named for Ann Carr, the Nittany Lions' two-time National Champion in the all-around.
"This was a great night for our team," said Head Coach Sarah Brown. "Thank you to the fans who came to support us, we had great energy all night. Lauren demonstrated great leadership and ended with high scores on floor and all-around. Congrats to the floor team, led by Ashleigh Gnat, for a big performance."
Penn State started the evening with a 48.750 on vault. The Nittany Lions were led by Bonsall's 9.825, which tied a career high and earned her second career vault title. She was followed by Bridgens and junior Kourtney Chinnery, who each recorded a 9.750. Freshman Amy Bladon tallied a career-high 9.725. Rushlow recorded a 9.700.
The Hawkeyes collected a 48.825 on vault, paced by sophomore Lauren Guerin's 9.825, which tied Bonsall for the event title. Ariana Agrapides and Bridget Killian tied for third on vault with a 9.800.
On bars, the Nittany Lions registered a 49.175. Bonsall again led the Blue and White, with a 9.900, matching another career high and capturing her third career bars event title. Bridgens claimed second on bars with a 9.875, tying her season high. Senior Tess McCracken, Rushlow and junior Ava Verdeflor tied for fourth in the event with a 9.800. Chinnery collected a 9.725.
Iowa recorded a 47.175 on bars. Their top performer was freshman Allyson Steffensmeier, who placed third with a 9.825.
Penn State tallied a 48.975 on beam. Rushlow won the event and set a career-high with a 9.900. The freshman picked up her first career event title on beam. Sophomore Jessie Bastardi and Bridgens tied for third with a 9.825, both setting a season high. Verdeflor secured a 9.750, while freshman Bella Romagnano recorded a 9.675. McCracken had a 9.450.
The Hawkeyes notched a 48.500 on beam, paced by Killian's 9.825.
The Nittany Lions concluded the evening on floor, tallying a big 49.375. Bridgens tied for the floor title with a 9.950. It was her second floor title of the season and the third of her career. Sophomore Melissa Astarita tied a career high with a 9.900 to capture third on the event. Senior Kristen Politz earned a career high 9.850, while McCracken tied a career high with a 9.850. Rushlow collected a 9.825, while Bonsall registered a 9.775. In an exhibition, Chinnery posted a 9.750.
Iowa tallied a 49.175 on floor. Guerin matched Bridgens' 9.950 to share the event title. Junior Erin Castle followed with a 9.875.
Penn State had the only two all-around competitors with Bridgens' 39.400 capturing the event title. Rushlow collected a 39.225 as the Nittany Lions' second all-around competitor.
The Nittany Lions return to Rec Hall for a Big Ten matchup against No. 36 Rutgers on Friday, January 31. The meet is scheduled for 7 p.m.
Season tickets are $30 for adults and $20 for youth (ages 12 and younger). Single-meet tickets are also available for $8 for adults and $5 for youth. For more info, please visit here, call 1-800-NITTANY weekdays from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. or visit the Bryce Jordan Center ticket office weekdays from 9 a.m-4:30 p.m.
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Junior Lauren Bridgens won the all-around and floor titles