PISCATAWAY, N.J. – The Penn State women's gymnastics team (5-1, 1-1 Big Ten) defeated Rutgers (3-5, 0-2 Big Ten) 196.075-195.850 on Thursday night in Jersey Mike's Arena. The Nittany Lions performed well on all four events, using a strong beam rotation to pull away from the Scarlet Knights at the end.
"Tonight was a fight from start to finish," said Head Coach Sarah Brown. "Our team is battling each week and I continue to see strong performances from every athlete. It's always hard to win on the road, so I'm incredibly proud of the way we finished the competition."
Penn State was led by an outstanding combination of routines, highlighted by Ava Piedrahita and Maddie Johnston in the all-around. Piedrahita put up a 39.450 in all four events, with Johnston collecting a 39.250 in her first all-around of the year. Piedrahita posted 9.9 scores on vault and bars while Johnston anchored the beam rotation with a 9.9 of her own.
Isabella Salcedo continued to be an excellent, steady presence in Brown's lineups, earning 9.85-plus scores on all three of her events. Freshman Kalea McElligott turned in a career-high 9.875 on beam and completed the all-around for the third time this season. Stellar individual successes led to Penn State's to its second 196-plus team total of the season.
ROTATION RECAP
On bars in the first rotation, Piedrahita led the way with a career-high-tying 9.9 total. Johnston (9.875) and Gabbie Gallentine (9.825) rounded out the top three scorers for the Nittany Lions, each earning career-best scores.
Piedrahita, an All-American on vault last season, scored her first 9.9 on the apparatus this year, tying for the event win. Salcedo totaled a 9.875, tying her career high, while Johnston (9.85), Amani Herring (9.8) and McElligott (9.8) each totaled 9.8-plus scores to give the Nittany Lions a season-best 49.225 vault total.
During the third rotation, Penn State earned 9.875 scores on the floor exercise from Herring and Piedrahita to lead the Nittany Lions and earn a share of the floor title. Salcedo rounded out the Nittany Lions' top three scorers with a 9.85, her second 9.85-plus of the day.
Penn State posted an excellent 49.225 on beam in a clutch fourth and final rotation. Just when the scores were tightening up, the Nittany Lions went out and sealed the win on beam. Johnston's 9.9 anchored the team and earned the event win. McElligott bounced back from a tough floor routine to post her career high on the beam, going 9.875. Salcedo scored a 9.85 and the pair of Herring and Haleigh Gibble each earned 9.8s as Penn State earned the Big Ten victory.
WHAT'S NEXT
The Nittany Lions will return to Rec Hall on Saturday, Feb. 3 where they will take on Minnesota at 2 p.m.
FOLLOW THE NITTANY LIONS
Follow along with the team on our social media pages on Facebook (PennStateWomensGymnastics) and X/Instagram (@pennstatewgym).