Michigan State University Athletics
Michigan State University
Brown
Smith’s Perfect 10.000 Lifts No. 11 Spartans to Win Over Brown on Senior Day
3/15/2026 6:57:00 PM | Women's Gymnastics
EAST LANSING, Mich. - Behind a perfect 10.000 from Nikki Smith on floor, 11th-ranked Michigan State gymnastics earned a 197.500-194.750 victory over Brown Sunday on Senior Day inside Jenison Field House Sunday afternoon.
MSU moves to 10-5 overall with the win, while Brown drops to 13-7-1. MSU's 197.500 is its highest home score of the season and third-highest score of the season overall.
The Spartans swept the podium on all but one event and went 1-2-3 in the all-around, led by a 39.600 from Smith. Smith's 10.000 on floor was the second of her career on the event and fourth perfect score overall in her career, becoming the only Spartan in program history to score four perfect 10.000s.
"I think what's great about this team is they've just stayed the course," said head coach Mike Rowe. "They've believed in our process and everything that we've been trying to get the program to do. Continue raising the bar. Not backing off. And we're still doing that to this day. We're very proud of what they did tonight. We know there's a lot of fuel in the tank. We can make some good corrections and maybe get a little more focused and honed in for next week."
MSU opened the meet with a 49.400 on vault, its third-best team score on the event this season, to take a 49.400-48.550 lead after the first rotation. Senior Sage Kellerman and Smith led the Spartans with 9.950s to share the event title, with Kellerman earning her team-leading fourth vault title of the season and Smith capturing her third. Senior Olivia Zsarmani scored a 9.850 in the fifth spot for third and sophomore Cady Duplissis and junior MaKayla Tucker each scored a 9.825 in the leadoff and second positions, respectively. Debuting a Yurchenko 1.5 for the first time at MSU, redshirt sophomore Retoshia Halsell scored a 9.775 in the third spot.
The Spartans set a season-high 49.425 on bars to take a 98.825-97.125 over the Bears at the halfway point. Kellerman anchored with a season-high-tying 9.925 to capture her second event title of the day and fourth bars title of the season. Junior Kendall Abney tied a season-high 9.900 for the second-straight week to finish second in the No. 3 spot. Tucker and Zsarmani scored 9.875s to tie for third, Smith posted a 9.850 and freshman Lilia Cosman earned a 9.775 in the leadoff spot.
A 49.125 on beam gave MSU a 147.950-145.725 lead over Brown after three rotations. Tucker and Cosman each scored 9.875s in the fifth and sixth spots, respectively, to lead MSU and share the event title with Brown's Emily Ford. Tucker's beam title was her third of the season, while Cosman earned her second. Zsarmani scored a 9.825 in the fourth spot, Smith posted a 9.800 and Abney led off with a 9.775.
MSU put the exclamation point on its final home meet of 2026 with a 49.550 on floor, with all six routines finishing in the top six. Smith's 10.000, her first since the 2024 season, helped her to her fifth floor title of the season. Junior Gabi Ortiz finished second with a career-high 9.925 and Tucker completed the podium sweep with a 9.900 for third, earning her seventh score of 9.900 or better on the event in 2026. Senior Stephanie Lebster led off with a 9.875 and freshman Korynne Marquart and Zsarmani each scored 9.850s. Zsarmani's routine was her season debut on the event.
The PERFECT ending ✨
— Michigan State Gymnastics (@MSU_Gymnastics) March 15, 2026
Nikki scores the second floor 10.00 and fourth perfect 10 of her career overall!!! pic.twitter.com/LC0zZBhAni
Tucker finished second in the all-around behind Smith with a 39.475. Zsarmani, making her season all-around debut, finished third with a 39.400.
Up next, MSU competes in the third session of the Big Ten Championships against UCLA, Michigan and Minnesota on Saturday, March 21 at 6 p.m. ET inside Illinois' State Farm Center. The meet will air on Big Ten Network.
Players Mentioned
