University of Minnesota Athletics
University of Minnesota
BYU
Gophers Win in Home Finale
3/4/2017 12:00:00 AM | Gymnastics
March 4, 2017
The University of Minnesota women's gymnastics team closed their home season with a win over Brigham Young University on Saturday night at the Sports Pavilion. With a final score of 196.050-195.000, the Gophers earned gold in each event.
"Our team is gaining confidence," head coach Jenny Hansen said. "There were some fabulous performances tonight, we want to peak at the right time and I see our best gymnastics in front of us."
By event, Minnesota scored a 49.125 on vault, 48.925 on uneven bars, 48.600 on beam and 49.400 on floor.
On vault, Bailey Abernathy won the event title with a 9.875. Teammates Bailie Holst, Ciara Gardner and Paige Williams all followed to share silver with scores of 9.850. Gardner broke her personal record on the vault, while Holst matched her best.
Holst shared gold on bars with BYU's Wilde after tallying a 9.875. Freshman Ivy Lu placed fourth with a 9.825, while Hannah Hitchcock tied for fifth with a 9.800.
Gardner earned top honors on beam with a 9.875. Selena Ung earned bronze with a stunning personal record of 9.850. Williams finished sixth with a 9.775.
Minnesota finished strong on floor, with three Gophers scoring 9.900 or higher. Abernathy earned her second gold with a personal record of 9.950. Kaitlin Rahon and Gardner both matched their career bests with 9.900 to share second place.
"When I have fun, it reflects in the score," Abernathy said. "I was having the time of my life out there and I soaked up every single second of it. I was so satisfied with my routine that I didn't really care about the score, but I was so thrilled that it ended up being a personal record."
Gardner broke her personal record to win all-around with a 39.400. Holst placed third with a 38.400.
The meet was also senior night for the Gophers as the team honored Abernathy, Holst and Rahon.
"[The seniors] are a wonderful group because they have grown so much since their freshman year," Hansen said. "Their impact on this team has been through more than just gymnastics. They're true leaders, and that's the goal of our program."
NEXT UP
Minnesota will head to Iowa City for the Big Ten Championships Qualifier next Saturday, March 11.
Players Mentioned
