University of Minnesota Athletics
Sunday, February 18
Urbana-Champaign, IL
2:00 PM
University of Minnesota
196.950
at
196.850
Illinois
Players Mentioned
/ Gymnastics
/ Gymnastics
/ Gymnastics
/ Gymnastics
/ Gymnastics
/ Gymnastics
/ Gymnastics
/ Gymnastics
/ Gymnastics
/ Gymnastics
/ Gymnastics
No. 15 Gophers Finish Strong to Down Illini
2/18/2024 2:15:00 PM | Gymnastics
Minnesota earned 49.500 and 49.350 scores on floor and beam, respectively
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- The No. 15 University of Minnesota women's gymnastics team (8-1, 4-1 B1G) outlasted Illinois (6-5, 1-4 B1G) on Sunday afternoon at Huff Hall, 196.950 to 196.800. The meet was the Gophers final head-to-head Big Ten meet of the year. They'll compete at Big Five's next week to finish out Big Ten regular season competition.
"At this point of the season, we are focused on honing in on the details," said head coach Jenny Hansen. "I loved the way the team responded on floor and beam. A lot of people stepped up when we really needed them."
Minnesota's floor score led the way with a 49.500. The Gophers tallied a 49.350 on beam, 49.075 on the uneven bars and a 49.025 on vault. The Gophers trailed 98.400-98.100 after two events, but turned it on to earn the win after stellar floor and beam performances. Minnesota's floor score was its third highest this season while the team score tied for second-highest.
Mya Hooten took home another event title on the floor with a 9.975, her fifth of the year on the event. She holds 11 total event titles in 2024. Gianna Gerdes (39.300) took home her fifth all-around title of the season. Her best event came on the floor, where she earned a 9.875. Sarah Moraw and Ella Sirjord tied for an event title in the balance beam with a 9.900. It was Sirjord's third beam title and Moraw's first this season.
"Sarah looked very relaxed and comfortable out there today," Hansen said. "She was at her best when the team needed her most and really did a great job. The meet came down to the final routine, and Ella knocked hers out of the park. She's been doing such a great job all year, and that was no different today."
For Illinois, Abby Mueller (9.875) took home the vault title and Mia Takekawa (9.925) won the uneven bars event title. Mueller finished with a 39.275 score on all-around, finishing second to Gianna Gerdes.
EVENT BREAKDOWN:
BARS
Minnesota started the meet with a 49.075 score on bars. Mya Hooten led the team with a 9.900 score as the anchor, her second straight 9.000-or-higher bars performance this season. Gianna Gerdes, Marissa Jencks and Jordyn Lyden all earned 9.800s while Ella Sirjord rounded out the top five with a 9.775.
VAULT
The 'U' earned a 49.025 on vault. Sarah Moraw paced Minnesota with a 9.850 on vault, her fifth straight performance over 9.825. Marissa Jencks tallied a 9.825 to lead the Gophers off and Gianna Gerdes matched her in the No. 4 spot. Mya Hooten tallied a 9.800 while Lauren Pearl and Sophia Nguyen tied for the five spot at 9.725.
FLOOR
Trailing 98.400-98.100 after two rotations, Minnesota had work to do on the floor. Lauren Pearl answered the call, leading off her team with a career-best 9.925. Seria Johnson followed her up with a 9.825. Gianna Gerdes tallied a 9.875 while Emily Koch went 9.900, her third straight meet posting 9.900-or-better on floor. In typical fashion, Mya Hooten dazzled to end the rotation, posting a 9.975 to give Minnesota a team score of 49.500 on the event. The Gophers took the lead in the meet, 147.600-147.575.
BEAM
Emily Koch started the Gophers off with a 9.775 before Lauren Pearl followed her up with a stellar 9.875 score, which tied her career-high. Sarah Moraw continued a great day as well, tying her career-best with a 9.900. When her team needed her most, freshman Jordyn Lyden filled in admirably for Katie Horak, tallying a career-best performance with a 9.875. Her previous high this season was 9.775 in just two appearances. Ella Sirjord anchored the group with a 9.900 to seal the meet. As a team, the Gophers earned a 49.350 on the event.
UP NEXT
Minnesota goes to the Big Five meet next Friday, Feb. 23 at Penn State. The meet begins at 5 p.m. CT on BTN.
"At this point of the season, we are focused on honing in on the details," said head coach Jenny Hansen. "I loved the way the team responded on floor and beam. A lot of people stepped up when we really needed them."
Minnesota's floor score led the way with a 49.500. The Gophers tallied a 49.350 on beam, 49.075 on the uneven bars and a 49.025 on vault. The Gophers trailed 98.400-98.100 after two events, but turned it on to earn the win after stellar floor and beam performances. Minnesota's floor score was its third highest this season while the team score tied for second-highest.
Mya Hooten took home another event title on the floor with a 9.975, her fifth of the year on the event. She holds 11 total event titles in 2024. Gianna Gerdes (39.300) took home her fifth all-around title of the season. Her best event came on the floor, where she earned a 9.875. Sarah Moraw and Ella Sirjord tied for an event title in the balance beam with a 9.900. It was Sirjord's third beam title and Moraw's first this season.
"Sarah looked very relaxed and comfortable out there today," Hansen said. "She was at her best when the team needed her most and really did a great job. The meet came down to the final routine, and Ella knocked hers out of the park. She's been doing such a great job all year, and that was no different today."
For Illinois, Abby Mueller (9.875) took home the vault title and Mia Takekawa (9.925) won the uneven bars event title. Mueller finished with a 39.275 score on all-around, finishing second to Gianna Gerdes.
EVENT BREAKDOWN:
BARS
Minnesota started the meet with a 49.075 score on bars. Mya Hooten led the team with a 9.900 score as the anchor, her second straight 9.000-or-higher bars performance this season. Gianna Gerdes, Marissa Jencks and Jordyn Lyden all earned 9.800s while Ella Sirjord rounded out the top five with a 9.775.
VAULT
The 'U' earned a 49.025 on vault. Sarah Moraw paced Minnesota with a 9.850 on vault, her fifth straight performance over 9.825. Marissa Jencks tallied a 9.825 to lead the Gophers off and Gianna Gerdes matched her in the No. 4 spot. Mya Hooten tallied a 9.800 while Lauren Pearl and Sophia Nguyen tied for the five spot at 9.725.
FLOOR
Trailing 98.400-98.100 after two rotations, Minnesota had work to do on the floor. Lauren Pearl answered the call, leading off her team with a career-best 9.925. Seria Johnson followed her up with a 9.825. Gianna Gerdes tallied a 9.875 while Emily Koch went 9.900, her third straight meet posting 9.900-or-better on floor. In typical fashion, Mya Hooten dazzled to end the rotation, posting a 9.975 to give Minnesota a team score of 49.500 on the event. The Gophers took the lead in the meet, 147.600-147.575.
BEAM
Emily Koch started the Gophers off with a 9.775 before Lauren Pearl followed her up with a stellar 9.875 score, which tied her career-high. Sarah Moraw continued a great day as well, tying her career-best with a 9.900. When her team needed her most, freshman Jordyn Lyden filled in admirably for Katie Horak, tallying a career-best performance with a 9.875. Her previous high this season was 9.775 in just two appearances. Ella Sirjord anchored the group with a 9.900 to seal the meet. As a team, the Gophers earned a 49.350 on the event.
UP NEXT
Minnesota goes to the Big Five meet next Friday, Feb. 23 at Penn State. The meet begins at 5 p.m. CT on BTN.
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