UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – The No. 28 Penn State Women's Gymnastics team is set to welcome No. 29 Nebraska on Saturday for a 2 p.m. meet at Rec Hall. The meet will be live streamed on Big Ten Network+.
The Nittany Lions, led by Head Coach Sarah Brown, look to bounce back from a 194.875-193.875 setback against Maryland last Sunday. Sophomore Cassidy Rushlow claimed the all-around title, while junior Melissa Astarita captured the floor title. Freshman Natalie Cross earned PSU's top scores on vault and beam, while senior Erynne Allen had a career high on floor.
Nebraska, coached by Heather Brink, fell 196.475-193.400 against Illinois last Friday.
NO PUBLIC ATTENDANCE
Under current Big Ten guidelines, public tickets will not be sold for 2021 Penn State Women's Gymnastics home meets.
Fans can follow along with the action by watching Big Ten Network, following live scoring and checking for updates on our social media pages on Facebook (PennStateWomensGymnastics) and Twitter/Instagram (@pennstatewgym).
SERIES HISTORY
Nebraska holds a 27-5 advantage in the all-time series. Penn State fell 195.150-194.000 in Lincoln last season. Lauren Bridgens won the floor title with a 9.925, while Tess McCracken tied for the beam title with a 9.825.
MEET THE CORNHUSKERS
Nebraska currently ranks 29th in the RoadToNationals standings after finishing the 2020 season ranking 19th in the nation. The Huskers returned second team All-Big Ten selection Kylie Piringer.
After its first meet of the season, Nebraska ranks 24th in the nation on bars (48.800), 25th on vault (48.800), 31st on beam (48.025) and 33rd on floor (47.775).
Junior Kynsee Roby ranks 17th in the nation on beam (9.875) and tied with Kinsey Davis for the Huskers' top score on bars (9.800). Freshman Chloe Lorange sits 41st in the country in all-around (38.650) and 66th on beam (9.800). Senior Makayla Curtis had Nebraska' top tally on floor (9.800) and Anika Dujakovich led the squad on vault (9.800) in week one.
In 2020, the Huskers ranked 19th in the nation with a 196.440 National Qualifying Score (NQS). Nebraska ranked eighth in the country on vault (49.240), 12th on floor (49.325), 21st on beam (49.095) and 30th on bars (49.010).
STRONG START ON VAULT
The Nittany Lions started off the season with a solid 48.950 on vault, their highest vault score in a season opener since 2013 vs. Denver and Lindenwood (49.100).
Natalie Cross led Penn State with a 9.850, while Alissa Bonsall and Cassidy Rushlow each tallied a 9.825.
Penn State ranks 15th in the nation on vault after week one.
YOUTH MOVEMENT
Nine of Penn State's 24 lineup spots were occupied by freshmen on Sunday against Maryland. Three other lineup spots earned their first score on that event as a Nittany Lion.
Natalie Cross led the group, leading Penn State on vault (9.850) and beam (9.875), placing second overall in both events, and competing on bars. Maddie Johnston earned a solid 9.825 on beam, finishing third in the meet. She also competed on vault and bars.
Maggie Ayers made her Penn State debut on bars, beam and floor. Amy Bladon made her Nittany Lion debut on beam and floor, while Donna Howell made her debut on vault.
NATIONAL NITS
Natalie Cross is ranked among the RoadToNationals Top 25 on two events, ranking 17th on beam and 23rd on vault.
Cassidy Rushlow sits 26th in the country in all-around. On floor, Melissa Astarita holds 25th and Erynne Allen holds 39th. Maddie Johnston ranks 41st on beam and Alissa Bonsall and Rushlow rank 46th on vault.
As a team, Penn State is 15th in the nation on vault.
HOME SWEET HOME
Penn State averaged a 196.230 in five home meets last season, its highest at Rec Hall since 2015. The Nittany Lions earned a 196.000 or better in each of the last four home meets, highlighted by a 196.575 in the PSU Quad Meet.
The Nittany Lions scored above a 49.000 on bars in four of five meets, paced by a 49.300 against West Virginia. Penn State tallied a 49.000 or better on beam in four home meets, finishing strong with a 49.325 against Florida. The blue and white also earned a 49.000 or better on floor in four meets, led by a 49.375 vs. Iowa.
BONSALL, RUSHLOW EARN B1G RECOGNITION
Senior Alissa Bonsall and sophomore Cassidy Rushlow were named Big Ten Gymnasts to Watch.
Bonsall won four individual event titles in 2020, including two on vault and two on bars. She earned a 9.900 on both vault and bars. She has three career scores of 9.900 on bars.
Rushlow ranked 39th in the nation on all-around last season with a 39.130 NQS. She also sat 63rd on beam with a 9.855 NQS. Rushlow won five individual event titles in 2020, including one in all-around, two on vault, one on bars and one on beam. She earned two scores of 9.900 on beam, a 9.900 on vault and a 9.925 on bars.
UP NEXT
Penn State travels to No. 4 Minnesota on Saturday, January 30 at 2 p.m.
