UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Coming off a road victory at Maryland, the No. 31 Penn State women's gymnastics team returns home on Saturday for a home meet against No. 20 Illinois at Rec Hall. The meet is slated to start at 4 p.m. and will be broadcast live on Big Ten Network+.
The Nittany Lions, led by Head Coach Sarah Brown, claimed their first win of the season on Friday, defeating No. 28 Maryland 196.000-194.950.
Sophomore Cassidy Rushlow led the charge, winning the all-around title with a career high-tying 39.475 score. Rushlow captured event titles on bars, beam and floor, earning career highs on beam (9.925) and floor (9.875), while tying fellow sophomore Bella Romagnano on bars (9.850). Penn State set or tied seven career-highs in the meet.
The 3-1 Illini enter Saturday's competition off a second-place finish in their tri-meet with Ohio State and Michigan State on Sunday. The team posted a season-best 196.075 score in the meet.
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
Penn State holds an 11-8 advantage in the all-time series against Illinois. The Illini took last year's meeting 195.725-195.425. Lauren Bridgens claimed the all-around title in the meet with a score of 39.275.
MEET THE ILLINI
Illinois enters Saturday's meet with a 3-1 record in dual meets with a tri-meet victory over Maryland and Rutgers. The team has averaged a score of 195.669 in its meets this season.
Junior Shayla Scott averages a 9.875 on floor, ranking 25th overall in the nation.
As a team, the Illini rank 10th nationally on beam and 11th on floor exercise.
Head coach Nadalie Walsh is in her fourth season with the program.
NATIONAL NITS
Cassidy Rushlow ranks 20th in the nation on bars with an average of 9.869. The sophomore also ranks 33rd in all-around with an average score of 39.162 and 52nd on vault with an average of 9.831
Melissa Astarita's 9.875 average on floor ranks 25th in the nation.
As a team, Penn State ranks 25th on floor and vault and 27th on bars.
A WEEK TO REMEMBER
Sophomore Cassidy Rushlow was named Big Ten Co-Gymnast of the Week on Monday. She shared the award with Minnesota's Lexy Ramler after leading the No. 31 Nittany Lions to a 196.000-194.950 win over No. 28 Maryland.
Rushlow won the all-around title against the Terrapins, tying her career high with a 39.475. She topped the second-place finisher by .825. It was her fourth career all-around title and third of the 2021 season.
She claimed event titles on floor, bars and beam, while also leading the Nittany Lions on vault.
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 followed that performance with a 48.875 against Nebraska, 48.600 against Minnesota and 48.875 against Maryland. Rushlow leads the team with an average of 9.831, ranking 52nd in the nation.
Penn State ranks 25th in the nation on vault after week four.
YOUTH MOVEMENT
Nine of Penn State's 24 lineup spots were occupied by freshmen in its season opener 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.
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.