Michigan State University
NC State
No. 13 Gymnastics Earns 196.400-196.375 Comeback Win at NC State
1/14/2023 8:11:00 PM | Women's Gymnastics
RALEIGH, N.C. - Lifted by a season-high floor score in the third rotation, No. 13 Michigan State overcame an early deficit to top NC State, 196.400-196.375, at Reynolds Coliseum Saturday afternoon in Raleigh.
MSU moves to 1-1 (0-0 B1G) with the win, while NC State drops to 0-2 (0-1 EAGL).
"We couldn't be prouder of the team's tenacity, grit, enthusiasm and having each other's backs tonight," said Michigan State head coach Mike Rowe. "They truly represented what our program's culture is all about. A nail-biter for sure, but the message behind it is clear: we're not giving in, and we've got tons left in the tank."
BARS
Despite two falls in the Spartans' bars lineup, MSU put together a 48.600 first rotation led by junior Delanie Harkness and Olivia Zsarmani's 9.900s. Harkness and Zsarmani shared the event title, while sophomores Skyla Schulte and Gabrielle Stephen both scored 9.775s for MSU. Zsarmani's 9.900 was a career-high, topping her 9.825 on Jan. 6 at Alabama.
VAULT
Trailing the Wolfpack 49.100-48.600 after the rotation, the Spartans scored a 49.200 on vault to cut NC State's lead to 0.425 heading into the third rotation. Senior Nyah Smith scored a 9.800 in the leadoff position for MSU. Freshmen Sage Kellerman and Nikki Smith posted a 9.875 and 9.850, respectively for the Spartans, while Stephen anchored with a 9.900 for her second-consecutive vault title and 9.900 on the event.
FLOOR
The Spartans used their highest-scoring rotation of the year, a 49.400 on floor, to take a 147.200-147.125 lead into the fourth rotation. All six of MSU's routines scored a 9.800 or higher. Harkness tied her career-high with a 9.925 to earn a share of the event title with NC State's Chloe Negrete. Nikki Smith (9.900) and Baleigh Garcia (9.850) scored career-highs on the event, while Schulte added a 9.875 and Stephen scored a 9.850. Nyah Smith posted a 9.800.
BEAM
Garcia scored her second-straight 9.900 on beam to claim the event title for the second week in a row, clinching the win for the Spartans in the anchor spot. Stephen (9.875), Schulte (9.850) and Nikki Smith (9.825), who made her debut on the event, all posted scores in the 9.8s. MSU totaled a season-high 49.200 team score on the event.
Stephen finished second in the all-around with a season-high 39.400 score. Schulte scored a 39.275 for third, while Nikki Smith scored a 38.825 in her all-around debut. MSU earned event wins on vault, beam and floor.
Up next, Michigan State hosts No. 4 Michigan on Sunday, Jan. 22 for the Spartans' home and conference opener at Jenison Field House. The meet will air nationally on Big Ten Network with a start time to be announced early next week.
Players Mentioned
