PITTSBURGH – The Penn State women's gymnastics team (10-9, 3-6 Big Ten) took down Towson by a score of 195.700-195.450 on Thursday afternoon in the Petersen Events Center. The Nittany Lions advance to the regional semifinal round and will compete in session II tomorrow night at 7 p.m. against Florida, Arizona State, and Maryland.
"Our number one goal today was to advance, and that's what our team has been able to do, which makes me really proud," said head coach Sarah Brown. "I saw an amazing amount of grit and fight and tenacity in each and every one of our athletes and I know how bad they wanted it."
The Nittany Lions were led by standout performances on bars and floor, using a whole team effort to overtake the Tigers. Penn State kept the momentum going from its previous outstanding outings, posting multiple scores that cracked the top ten at Penn State in NCAA regional competition. This markes the first time a Nittany Lion team has qualified for the regional semifinal round since the 2019 campaign.
REGIONAL RECORD BOOK
- 49.100 – The Nittany Lions' bars score is the sixth-best regional total in program history.
- 49.225 – Penn State's floor score tied the fourth-highest regional mark ever at Penn State and is the Nittany Lions' best floor score this year.
- 9.9 – Cassidy Rushlow's bars total tied the third-best regional score on the apparatus from a Nittany Lion ever.
ROTATION RECAP
Penn State started the afternoon on bars, posting the sixth-highest regionals total in Penn State history, a 49.100 score that kicked off the event. Cassidy Rushlow earned the Nittany Lions' only 9.9 total on the day to lead Penn State in the event. Jessica Johanson earned a 9.825 while Gabbie Gallentine and Ava Piedrahita each posted 9.8s. The Nittany Lions earned a 49.100 on the apparatus in the first rotation, a solid start to a winning afternoon.
The Nittany Lions then moved to vault where they were led, as they have been all season, by Ava Piedrahita. The freshman posted a 9.85 to anchor the Penn State lineup, while Maddie Johnston (9.8), Johanson (9.775) and Rushlow (9.775) helped the Nittany Lions earn a 48.950 in the rotation.
Penn State then moved to floor where it tied the fourth-best regional score in program history on the apparatus, recording a 49.225. It was a four-way tie for the top spot on the team, with Johanson, Ava Piedrahita, Isabella Salcedo, and Amani Herring all earning 9.85s. The event marked Herring's first competition since Feb. 17.
On the balance beam, the Nittany Lions had to count a fall for the first time this season. Despite the mishap, Penn State was able to power through and finish ahead of the Tigers to advance to the semifinals.
Penn State had three all-around athletes compete in the event, with the freshman Piedrahita leading the way with a 39.325. Johanson neared her career high in the event, posting a 39.300, with Johnston recording a 39.100.
FROM THE SOURCE
Head Coach Sarah Brown
WHAT'S NEXT
With the win, the Nittany Lions will compete in a quad meet tomorrow night at 7 p.m. against Florida, Arizona State, and Maryland in the semifinal round of the Pittsburgh Regional.
FOLLOW THE NITTANY LIONS
Follow along with the team on our social media pages on Facebook (PennStateWomensGymnastics) and Twitter/Instagram (@pennstatewgym).