PISCATAWAY, N.J. – No. 13 Penn State women’s gymnastics (4-0, 3-0 Big Ten) continues the team’s hot start to the season with a 196.375-194.575 victory over the Rutgers Scarlet Knights (4-3, 0-3 Big Ten) in Jersey Mike’s Arena on Sunday afternoon. The win marks the program’s 30th win over the Scarlet Knights, the fourth-most Penn State wins against a single team, behind Pittsburgh (50), Ohio State (35) and West Virginia (33).
The stellar sophomore class was, once again, a key component of Penn State’s success. Elizabeth Leary led the way with an unofficial all-around total of 39.050 with Dani Latronica not far behind after totaling 29.525 on vault, beam and bars. Ellie Monahan tallied 29.350 on bars, beam and floor and Bella Misiura grabbed a 9.775 on floor.
BARS (49.200)
Latronica led the bars effort for the Nittany Lions after a meet-high 9.925, just short of tying her career-high. Freshman Ava Cash tied her career-high of 9.875 in her fourth routine on the event while Leary notched a 9.825. Graduate Jessica Johanson secured a 9.800 on her bars routine and Monahan finished with a 9.775. Senior Ava Piedrahita rounded out the event for the Blue and White with a 9.400.
VAULT (49.125)
Piedrahita bounced back strong, winning the vault event title with a 9.925, her new season-high by surpassing her 9.900 against Maryland. Cash continued to be a consistent staple in the vault lineup during her spectacular freshman campaign, putting up a 9.850. Johanson and Latronica secured 9.800s while Leary and sophomore Allison Kaempfer each tallied a 9.750.
FLOOR (49.025)
Leary and Kalea McElligott each grabbed a share of the floor event title, with each posting a 9.850 for their routines. Monahan notched a 9.800 with Misiura not far behind with a 9.775. Junior Alyssa Kramer secured a 9.700 on the floor and fellow junior Ashley Maul rounded out the event for the Nittany Lions.
BEAM (49.025)
Following a similar trajectory with Piedrahita, Maul bounced back to secure a share of the beam event title by tying her career-high 9.875 on the event. Kramer also redeemed herself with a 9.825, the second-best total by either team. Latronica and Monahan were not far behind the pair of juniors with a 9.800 and 9.775, respectively. McElligott tallied a 9.750 and Leary finished things out for the Nittany Lions with a 9.625.
UP NEXT
Penn State has a packed weekend of gymnastics. The Blue & White will first go southbound to face the no. 2-ranked LSU Tigers in Baton Rouge on Friday, February 6th at 7:30 p.m. and then welcome the no.15-ranked Michigan State Spartans on Sunday, February 8 at 2 p.m. for the program’s Women in Sports Day.
Follow along with the team on our social media pages on Facebook (PennStateWomensGymnastics) and X/Instagram (@pennstatewgym).