UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – No. 24 Penn State women’s gymnastics (6-2, 1-1 Big Ten) tallied a 196.325 team score to win its first regular season meet against Illinois (3-3, 1-2 Big Ten) since Feb. 2, 2019, on Friday evening in Rec Hall.
Penn State used a sensational floor performance to take down Illinois in the final rotation of the night. A pair of 9.9 tallies from sophomore standouts Alyssa Kramer and Kalea McElligott pushed the Nittany Lions over the edge to take down the Fighting Illini in an otherwise tightly-contested matchup.
McElligott earned the Ann Carr Award for clinching the victory with her 9.9 score as the team’s floor anchor. She also recorded her best all-around score of the season, a 39.275 tally.
ROTATION RECAP
The Nittany Lions began their night on vault, tallying two scores of 9.8 or higher. Penn State was led by a strong 9.825 by Maddie Johnston. Elizabeth Leary followed behind Johnston, earning a 9.8 on her first event of the night. Amani Herring competed her first vault of the season and earned a 9.725, along with Allison Kaempfer and McElligott.
On uneven bars, Penn State was fronted by Cassi Barbanente and Latronica who each recorded season-best 9.875 scores. Leary, Johnston and McElligott followed, each scoring 9.775s. Penn State scored a 49.075 team total.
Penn State posted a 49.175 on beam, a new season-high team score. McElligott and Herring each recorded 9.875s to lead the Nittany Lions. Following was a 9.85 from Johnston and then Leary with a 9.8. The Nittany Lions continued to improve their scores rotation by rotation, tallying a season-best 49.175.
On floor in the final rotation of the night, the Nittany Lions set a new season high with a 49.225. McElligott and Kramer fronted the group with their spectacular 9.9 scores. Isabella Salcedo scored a season-best 9.875 while Leary added a 9.8 as Penn State concluded its night with its best performance. The Rec Hall crowd felt the energy as it supported the Nittany Lions as they earned their first win over Illinois in six years.
Leary completed her third all-around of the season, compiling a career-best 39.175 total. McElligott finished second in the all-around with a season-best 39.275 mark.
WHAT'S NEXT
The Nittany Lions begin a Big Ten road trip, starting with a Matchup against Maryland in College Park on Friday, Feb. 7 at 6:30 p.m.
FOLLOW THE NITTANY LIONS
Follow along with the team on our social media pages on Facebook (PennStateWomensGymnastics) and X/Instagram (@pennstatewgym).