Michigan State University
Iowa
No. 17 Spartans Fall at Iowa in B1G Opener
1/17/2026 7:50:00 PM | Women's Gymnastics
IOWA CITY, Iowa - No. 17 Michigan State gymnastics fell to Iowa, 196.400-195.675, in its Big Ten opener Saturday night inside Carver-Hawkeye Arena.Â
MSU drops to 1-3 overall and 0-1Â in the B1G, while Iowa improves to 4-2 overall and 1-0 in the conference.Â
Iowa took a 0.675 lead after the first rotation with a 49.200 on vault after MSU scored a 48.525 on bars to open the meet. Senior Naya Howard led off with a 9.775 and junior MaKayla Tucker added a 9.800 in the No. 2 spot before freshman Lilia Cosman scored a 9.775 in the third spot. MSU was forced to count a fall after two consecutive falls, but a 9.850 from senior Sage Kellerman in the anchor spot helped the Spartans finish off the rotation with a 48.525. Kellerman's 9.850 was good for second place on the event.Â
The Hawkeyes maintained their lead after two rotations, 98.325-97.500, after MSU put up season-high 49.025 on vault. Making her return to the vault lineup, senior Olivia Zsarmani posted a 9.825 in the leadoff spot and was matched by Tucker in the No. 2 spot and Smith in the fifth spot. Sophomore Cady Duplissis added a 9.700 in the No. 4 position. Kellerman anchored with a season-high 9.850, capturing her second runner-up finish of the night in a tie with Iowa's JerQuavia Henderson and Sydney Turner.Â
MSU put up its best event score of the night on floor with a season-high 49.150 in the third rotation. Smith anchored with a season-high 9.925 to win the event title, her first of the season, also posting the highest score by a Spartan on any event Saturday night. Senior Stephanie Lebster led off with a 9.800, while Duplissis and junior Gabi Ortiz both posted career-highs with matching 9.825s. Cosman added a 9.775 in the No. 2 spot and Tucker scored a 9.750 in the fifth spot.Â
The Spartans finished the meet with a 48.975 on beam. Cosman led MSU with a career-high 9.825 in the anchor spot to earn the first event title of her career alongside Iowa's Henderson and Turner. Tucker, Smith and junior Isabella Trostel each posted 9.800s, while junior Kendall Abney scored a 9.750 in the second spot.Â
Tucker finished third in the all-around behind Henderson and Hawkeye Sophie Schriever with a 39.175. Smith placed fifth in the all-around.Â
Up next, MSU hosts UCLA for its home opener on Sunday, Jan. 25 at 1 p.m. inside the Breslin Center. The meet will be broadcast nationally on FOX.Â
Players Mentioned
