UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. –. The No. 31 Penn State women's gymnastics team returns to action on Sunday in a home tri-meet against No. 22 Ohio State and No. 29 Maryland at Rec Hall. The meet is scheduled to begin at 2 p.m. and will be broadcast live on Big Ten Network+.
The Nittany Lions, coached by Sarah Brown, are coming off a 196.300-195.270 loss to No. 20 Illinois on Feb. 13.
Senior Alissa Bonsall claimed her first victory of the season, topping the leaderboard on bars with a score of 9.875. It was the fifth event win of her collegiate career. Fellow senior Ava Verdeflor posted a career high score on beam with a 9.875.
Verdeflor will be honored prior to the meet as part of the team's Senior Day celebration, as she will be competing in her final home meet at Rec Hall on Sunday.
This will mark the first matchup against Ohio State this season. After an 0-3 start, the Buckeyes enter Sunday's competition as winners of their last four meets. The most recent was a 195.950-194.050 victory over Rutgers in New Jersey.
Penn State will face Maryland for the third time this season. The two sides split their prior two meetings with the Nittany Lions defeating the Terrapins 196.000-194.950 on Feb. 5.
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 a 34-23-1 advantage in the all-time series against Ohio State. The Nittany Lions also lead the series against Maryland 21-3.
MEET THE OPPONENTS
Ohio State enters Sunday's tri-meet with a 4-3 record. After starting the season 0-3 the Buckeyes have been victorious in their past four meets.
The Buckeyes have two gymnasts ranked in the top 50, with Jenna Swartzentruber ranked 24th in the nation on bars with an average of 9.865 and 34th on beam with an average of 9.850, with teammate Ella Hodges ranking 47th on beam with an average of 9.840.
As a team, the Buckeyes rank 15th nationally on beam.
Head coach Meredith Paulicivic is in her fourth year with the program.
Maryland has posted a 3-4 record thus far this season, and is coming off a tri-meet loss to Iowa and Minnesota in which the team posted a score of 195.350.
The Terrapins are led by senior Audrey Barber, who ranks 41st in the NCAA with an all-around average of 39.105. She ranks 24th on bars with an average of 9.865.
Maryland coach Brett Nelligan is in his 12th season as the leader of the program.
NATIONAL NITS
Cassidy Rushlow ranks 24th in the nation on bars with an average of 9.865. The sophomore also ranks 47th in all-around with an average score of 39.025 and 55th on vault with an average of 9.825.
Melissa Astarita's 9.870 average on floor ranks 43rd in the nation.
As a team, Penn State ranks 24th on bars and vault and 29th on vault.
SENIOR DAY SPOTLIGHT
Prior to the meet, the team will honor the accomplishments of senior Ava Verdeflor prior to her final meet at Rec Hall.
Verdeflor enters the meet coming off a career best performance on beam in which she scored a 9.875. It marked the second time this season that Verdeflor set a new career high, as she tallied a 9.900 on bars earlier this year.
Over the course of her career, Verdeflor has earned the Ann Carr award on two occasions and has posted scores of 9.800 or better on 16 times on bars and six times on beam.
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.