Huskers Capture Win Over Ohio State

Lincoln -- The eighth-ranked Nebraska women’s gymnastics team (4-2) overpowered Ohio State, 197.100-193.825,  Sunday evening in front of a crowd of 1,578 at the Devaney Center. 

"This team did so well as a team tonight, I am encouraged by how we did," Head Coach Dan Kendig said. "We did some new things successfully this evening, and we have a talented young group who are going to get better and better."

Senior Libby Landgraf led the Huskers in the all-around with a career-high 39.575. She tied for second place on the vault (9.90), third place on the uneven bars (9.90), tied for fifth place on the balance beam (9.825) and captured first place on the floor exercise (9.95).

Freshman Kristi Esposito tied her career-high all-around score 39.425 to earn runner-up honors in the all-around. She tied for third place on the uneven bars (9.90), tied for first place on the balance beam (9.875) and captured runner-up honors on the floor exercise (9.90). The Huskers scored above 49.0 in all four events, vault (49.30), uneven bars (49.45), balance beam (49.175) and floor exercise (49.175), setting a season high on uneven bars. 

The Huskers began their first rotation on the vault with all six gymnasts hitting their routines. Senior Gina Bruce led the Huskers, scoring a 9.95 and capturing first place in the event. Landgraf and freshman Stephanie Carter each scored 9.90 to tie for second place. Carter’s score was a career high in the event. In addition, freshman Michele Zabawa added a solid 9.80 to the Huskers’ effort and tied for fourth place. The Huskers finished on vault with a team total 49.30, leading the Buckeyes at the end of the first rotation.

In the second rotation on the uneven bars, the Huskers continued to outperform their opponent. Harris and Zabawa led the Huskers with a 9.925, tying for first place. The score was season best for Harris, while it was a career high for Zabawa. Landgraf and Esposito both scored a 9.90, sharing third place in the event. The score was also a career high for Esposito. Bruce added a 9.80, a season best for the senior in her season debut on the bars, as NU scored a season-high mark of 49.45 to extend their led to 98.75-96.475 entering the third rotation.

On the balance beam, the Huskers had five strong routines, as Esposito led the Huskers with a 9.875 and tied for first place. Carter scored a 9.85, capturing third place in the event. Landgraf and Harris both scored 9.825 to tie for fifth place, while freshman Natasha Gowda added a 9.80. The Huskers extended their lead over the Buckeyes at the end of the third rotation, 147.925-144.650.

The Huskers finished the evening on the floor exercise. Landgraf led the Huskers on the floor exercise with a 9.95 to capture first place honors. Esposito added a 9.90 with another strong floor routine to finish in second place, while Gowda scored a 9.875 to tie for fourth place. The Huskers went five for six in the event to finish the evening with a team total of 49.175 on the floor exercise.

The Huskers will travel to Denver, Colo. to compete against the University of Denver, Saturday, Feb. 21 at 7 p.m.