COLUMBUS, Ohio - The Penn State women's gymnastics team opened Big Ten competition on Saturday with a tightly contested battle at Ohio State, falling to the Buckeyes 196.450-196.425.
The score was the Nittany Lions' highest team score since February 29, 2020. Penn State recorded season-best scores in all four events, posting scores of 49+ on floor (49.300), bars (49.225) and vault (49.075).
"I'm so proud of these girls tonight," Head Coach Sarah Brown said. "From start to finish, the team came together and kept fighting throughout the entire night. Our floor team was incredible and we saw so many career highs! I finally feel like I saw the training translate to competition and I know we can continue to go up from here!"
Lauren Bridgens continued to shine since her return from injury, posting her first 39+ all-around score of the season with a 39.375. She matched her season-high on bars with a 9.900 to earn a share of the event title. Also sharing an event title was Cassidy Rushlow who posted a 9.850 on vault.
The day started on bars, with Bridgens leading Penn State to its third consecutive 49+ score to open the season. All five Penn State scorers recorded scores above a 9.8 with freshman Nikki Beckwith recording a career-high of 9.825.
The success continued onto vault, where the Nittany Lions posted their first 49 score on vault this year with a 49.075. Rushlow's 9.850 led the team with fifth-year seniors Bridgens, Alissa Bonsall and Kourtney Chinnery posting matching scores of 9.825.
The team recorded its highest score of the day on floor and its highest since January 2020 with a 49.300. Freshmen Isabella Salcedo and Elina Vihrova both recorded career-highs, with Salcedo leading Penn State with a 9.900 and Vihrova recording a 9.875.
Penn State closed out the meet with a season-best performance of 48.825 on beam. Salcedo (9.825) and Vihrova (9.750) posted career-highs on the apparatus, with Salcedo sharing the team lead with Maddie Johnston.
The Nittany Lions will return home next weekend when they host a double-dual meet against Illinois with the Penn State men's gymnastics team. Both teams are slated to face the Illini at 4 p.m. at Rec Hall.
