LINCOLN, Neb. – The Penn State women's gymnastics team (9-8, 3-6 Big Ten) competed well against their strongest competition of the regular season. The Nittany Lions scored a 196.100 and were able to take down No. 21 Maryland (194.475) to finish fourth overall behind No. 3 Michigan (197.100), No. 20 Iowa (196.925), and No. 23 Illinois (196.825).
"I'm so proud of how the team showed up tonight," said head coach Sarah Brown. "We've faced some adversity over the last week, but the team never wavered in their energy, positivity and commitment to putting out a strong performance. We stayed focused on the controllables, we had so much fun, and we put together a strong road score. What a night to be a Nittany Lion!"
On their way to their fifth 196-or-better team total this season, the Nittany Lions earned a 49.325 on vault, their highest score on the event since Feb. 28, 2015. The mark is the highest the team has earned on any apparatus this season as well.
Freshman Ava Piedrahita bounced back in a big way from her shaky outing at home last week, posting a career-best 9.95 to anchor the Nittany Lion vault group. Her score is tied for the ninth-best on the apparatus in program history. The mark also earned her the event win and helped her to a 39.300 all-around total.
Senior Cassidy Rushlow earned her fifth 9.9-or-better of the season on bars with a 9.925. Rushlow competed in the all-around for the first time this season and finished with a 39.200.
ROTATION RECAP
Penn State started off the night on the floor, where the Nittany Lion freshmen shined. Piedrahita tied her career high with a 9.85 while Hailey Gibble earned a 9.775 in her scoring debut on the event. Jessica Johanson earned a 9.8 to round out Penn State's top three scorers on the event.
The Nittany Lions moved to the vault, where Piedrahita brought the house down with an event-winning career-high 9.95. Maddie Johnston also set a career high on the apparatus with a 9.85. Elina Vihrova's 9.85 tied her career-best mark, while Rushlow made her season debut in the event with the same 9.85. Johanson and Isabella Salcedo eached posted 9.825s to complete the highest-scoring event for the Nittany Lions this season, totaling a 49.325.
On bars, Rushlow turned in her fifth 9.9-or-better score of the 2023 campaign, leading the squad with a 9.925. A pair of 9.825s from Johnston and Piedrahita bolstered the group as it headed to the beam.
Rushlow led the team with a 9.85 on beam, followed by Gibble with a 9.775. Penn State finished with a 48.825 score on the apparatus.
Penn State had four gymnasts compete in the all-around tonight. Piedrahita led the group with a 39.300 total score, followed by Rushlow and Johnston at 39.200. Johanson made her return to the all-around with a solid 39.050 effort.
WHAT'S NEXT
Penn State will return home to Rec Hall on Friday, March 3, for a double-dual with the men's team against William & Mary. The meet will serve as the Nittany Lions' senior day.
FOLLOW THE NITTANY LIONS
Follow along with the team on our social media pages on Facebook (PennStateWomensGymnastics) and Twitter/Instagram (@pennstatewgym).
