Huskers Down Nittany Lions in Big Ten Opener

University Park, Pa. — The Nebraska women’s gymnastics team (1-1, 1-0 Big Ten) won their first Big Ten Conference dual of the season against Penn State by a score of 195.250-195.100.

The Huskers overcame a deficit from the first two rotations to pick up their first win of the season. Seniors Kynsee Roby and Makayla Curtis, along with junior Kaitlyn Higgins won shares of the balance beam title with scores of 9.875.

Rotation One

Nebraska opened Saturday’s meet on uneven bars. Freshman Kinsey Davis led the Huskers with a score of 9.825. Sophomore Clara Colombo recorded a score of 9.725 while Kathryn Thaler and Chloe Lorange both picked up scores of 9.70. Kylie Piringer finished her routine with a score of 9.65, while Kynsee Roby scored a 9.175 due to a fall that was not counted. 

Penn State started the meet on vault. The Nittany Lions Cassidy Rushlow who recorded a score of 9.875 while Alissa Bosnell picked up a score of 9.85. Penn State led Nebraska by a score of 48.875-48.600 after the first rotation. 

Rotation Two

On vault, a freshman duo of Davis and Lorange set the standard for NU with scores of 9.825. Seniors Anika Dujakovich and Makayla Curtis recorded scores of 9.80 and 9.70 respectively, while Piringer picked up a score of 9.675. Freshman Danielle Press scored a 9.45, which was not counted.

On uneven bars, Rushlow led Penn State once again with a score of 9.925 which won her the event title. Penn State held the lead by a score of 97.875-97.425 heading into the third rotation.

Rotation Three

On floor, the Huskers strung together five solid performances to take the lead against Penn State. Piringer led Nebraska with a score of 9.85, while Dujakovich and Lorange put up scores of 9.825 and 9.80 respectively. Press recorded a score of 9.75 and Curtis finished her routine with a score 9.675. Due to a fall, Kaitlyn Higgins recorded a score of 9.10, which was not counted.

Penn State struggled in the third rotation, as three Nittany Lions either fell or stumbled on balance beam. Rushlow once again led the way for PSU with a 9.825. Nebraska entered the final rotation with a 146.325-145.875.

 

Rotation Four

The Huskers ended their afternoon on balance beam. Curtis, Higgins and Roby recorded scores of 9.875 which gave all three a share of the beam title. Davis picked up a score of 9.675 while Lorange ended her all-around day with a 9.625 on beam and a 38.950 in the all-around. Thaler scored a 9.30 which was not counted.

Penn State ended its meet on floor, where Melissa Astarita took the event title with a score of 9.925.

The Huskers picked up their first win of the season, defeating Penn State by a score of 195.250-195.100. 

Nebraska heads to East Lansing, Mich. for another Big Ten matchup with Michigan State. The meet will begin at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 30.