Final Results 

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Fighting Illini women's gymnastics posted a season-high 49.450 floor score on Saturday afternoon, taking second as a team at the annual Big Five Meet. Redshirt junior Mary Jane Horth grabbed the individual bars title at the meet and sophomore Lizzy LeDuc earned the floor title. The Illini posted a 196.450 team total, but Nebraska Cornhuskers won the event with a team score of 196.650, also earning a share of the Big Ten regular season title.

"I think the team started off on beam really well," said head coach Kim Landrus. "I really think their energy was super high and we went into that bye and let loose in the locker room. They danced their hearts out on floor for the second-highest floor score in school history, which just got the team so excited. We moved on to vault and had a solid showing and capped it off on bars with a 48.975 against some tough competition. I am really proud of the girls and it is great preparation for next weekend at the Big Ten Championships." 

The Illini opened the meet on beam, scoring a 49.175. Junior Bridget Hodan led the Illini with a 9.875, followed by Horth and sophomore Brielle Nguyen who tallied marks of 9.85. Sophomore Haylee Roe scored a 9.80 and freshman Karen Howell matched her career-high tally by the same score.

The Illini had a bye in the second rotation, but came out strong on floor in the third rotation led by LeDuc who matched her season-high mark of 9.925. Hodan and Nguyen each produced career-high 9.90 marks on the event, and Buchanan totaled a season-high 9.875. Roe and Howell each tallied career-high scores of 9.85 as well. The team score of 49.450 is tied for the second-highest total on floor in program history.  

The Orange and Blue moved on to vault in the fourth rotation, posting a 48.850 team score. Horth led the way for Illinois with a 9.825. Balthazor, Buchanan and LeDuc each tallied scores of 9.775 and Howell and senior Sarah Lyons each recorded a 9.70. The Illini trailed Nebraska, 147.925-147.475 after the fourth rotation.

Illinois put up a 48.875 team score on bars to close the meet. Horth produced a season-high 9.95, followed by Lyon's mark of 9.825. Balthazor, Buchanan and Howell finished the rotation for the Illini, each scoring 9.725.

Up next, Illinois will travel to Piscataway, N.J. for the Big Ten Championships on Saturday at Rutgers University. The Illini will begin on a bye at 5 p.m. ET.

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