Michigan State University
Michigan
No. 13 Michigan State Defeats No. 13 Michigan, 198.050-197.625 in Ann Arbor
2/4/2024 6:57:00 PM | Women's Gymnastics
ANN ARBOR, Mich. - No. 13 Michigan State gymnastics scored a program-best road score en route to a 198.050-197.625 victory over No. 13 Michigan Sunday afternoon at the Crisler Center. The win marked the Spartans' first win over Michigan in Ann Arbor since the 1990 Big Ten Championships.
MSU moves to 6-3 overall and stays undefeated in the Big Ten with a 3-0 record. Michigan drops to 3-4 (2-1 B1G). MSU's 198.050 is the second-best score in program history, while the Spartans became one of six teams in the NCAA to eclipse the 198.000 mark this season.
Sophomore Sage Kellerman made history with a perfect 10.000 on vault, earning her second perfect score of the season to become the only gymnast in program history to score multiple 10.000s on one event. MSU has now scored three 10.000s this season to break the previous single-season record of two.
"They were zoned in, that's for sure. As soon as we went to vault, they just took off with the momentum they created," said head coach Mike Rowe. "Event-by-event, they were just pushing and they weren't going to stop. I think we're really getting to believing in ourselves even though we are still playing around with lineups. Even today, we changed the line up before we started on bars. They were gritty, they were focused on just doing better, doing the best they could, not worrying about the other team. That's what we were trying to do, just focus on us."
The Spartans secured a narrow 49.375-49.325 lead after the first rotation with their third-best performance of the season on bars. Sophomore Gabrielle Stephen earned a 9.850 in the leadoff spot before sophomore Olivia Zsarmani made her first appearance back in the bars lineup after two meets away, matching Stephen's 9.850. Kellerman earned a season-high 9.900 in the fourth spot and was followed by Nikki Smith, who scored another 9.850 for MSU. In the anchor position, senior Delanie Harkness scored a 9.925 to finish second overall on the event.
MSU increased its lead at the halfway point with a 49.575 on vault, tying a program high. Schulte led the Spartans off with a 9.850 in her third-straight appearance on vault, while Nyah Smith, making her first appearance in the vault lineup since the Collegiate Quad on Jan. 13, scored a 9.750. Freshman MaKayla Tucker scored her first of three career highs on the day with a 9.925. Stephen earned a 9.850 in the fourth spot.
Smith kept the momentum going for the Spartans on vault with a stuck yurchenko-1.5 for a season-high 9.950, setting up Kellerman for 10.000 to complete the podium sweep for MSU.
A 49.500 performance on floor gave the Spartans a 148.450-147.875 lead through three rotations. Schulte led the Spartans with a 9.950 to finish second overall on the event. Sophomore Elle Beaufait and Tucker, earning her second career-high of the day, scored matching 9.900s, while Stephen, Harkness and Smith posted 9.875s.
The Spartans saved their best performance of the night for the last event, posting their best event score of the night on beam to tie the program record with a 49.600. MSU counted no score lower than a 9.900 while four Spartans either set or tied career highs. Schulte earned her third-straight beam title with a team-high 9.950, while seniors Baleigh Garcia and Giana Kalefe earned season-high 9.925s. Freshman duo MaKayla Tucker and Gabi Ortiz both posted career-high 9.900s and Stephen earned a 9.850 in the anchor position.
Stephen was MSU's only all-arounder on Sunday, finishing third with a 39.425.
Up next, MSU returns home to host Illinois on Friday, Feb. 9 at 7 p.m. in Jenison Field House. The meet will stream on B1G+.
Players Mentioned
