UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – No. 19 Penn State women’s gymnastics (5-2, 1-1 Big Ten) scored 194.825 points to earn a win over Rutgers (9-2, 1-1 Big Ten) in its first home Big Ten dual meet of the season.
Penn State moved to 29-2 all-time against the Scarlet Knights. The team’s win against Rutgers improves its 2025 home record to 3-0 and is its first conference win of the season.
The Nittany Lions had a standout performance on bars, tallying a new season-best team score of 49.250 with five gymnasts scoring a 9.8-or-higher. The group was led by graduate student Gabbie Gallentine who posted a season-best 9.9 total to lead Penn State and the overall bars score during the meet.
Kalea McElligott performed well as she competed three out of the four events against Rutgers. McElligott’s 9.7 score on vault placed fourth overall, her 9.775 score on beam was tied for second overall with teammate Ashley Maul and her 9.875 score on floor was the highest overall score during the meet.
The Ann Carr award, given to the athlete who achieves the most inspirational performance of each meet, was given to Gabbie Galentine for her impressive 9.9 performance on bars.
ROTATION RECAP
Penn State started off on vault, finishing with a team score of 48.600. Freshman Elizabeth Leary and fifth-year Maddie Johnston led the Nittany Lions on in their first event with a pair of 9.75s.
Gallentine’s 9.9 led Penn State to a new season-high bars score of 49.250. Four other Nittany Lions collected scores of 9.8-or-higher, including senior Jessica Johanson and grad student Cassi Barbanente, who both scored 9.85s. Johanson’s score was a season high while Barbanente’s score tied her season high. Penn State freshmen, Leary and Dani Latronica, both tallied 9.825s, with Latronica tying her career high to round out the five scorers for the Nittany Lions.
On the beam, sophomores Maul and McElligott lead the group with a pair of 9.775s. Junior Amani Herring collected a 9.725 while Senior Isabella Salcedo earned a 9.7. The Nittany Lions counted a fall on beam, scoring 48.025 points as a team.
The Nittany Lions closed the night on the floor, earning a score of 48.900. McElligott lead the team with a season-best 9.875 mark, winning the event title. Adding to the total with a 9.85 was Herring, followed by Leary’s 9.775. Salcedo made her first appearance on the floor this season, scoring a solid 9.75 for Penn State.
WHAT'S NEXT
Penn State will continue its home stand with another Big Ten dual meet, this time against Illinois back in Rec Hall on Friday, Jan. 31 at 6 p.m.
FOLLOW THE NITTANY LIONS
Follow along with the team on our social media pages on Facebook (PennStateWomensGymnastics) and X/Instagram (@pennstatewgym).