Huskers Head to Iowa for Big Ten Matchup

No. 8 Nebraska Cornhuskers (4-0 Overall, 4-0 Big Ten) vs. Iowa Hawkeyes (3-4 Overall, 3-1 Big Ten) Saturday Feb. 10 at 4 p.m., Iowa City, Iowa
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LINCOLN, Neb. -- Undefeated No. 8 Nebraska women’s gymnastics heads to Iowa to round out a stretch of five consecutive Big Ten meets against Iowa in Iowa City, Iowa on Saturday at 4 p.m.

Nebraska is coming off of a victory over Minnesota and sits atop the Big Ten standings through five weeks of gymnastics competition. The Huskers are 4-0 overall and 4-0 in the Big Ten. The Huskers opened the 2018 season on the road defeating Penn State and just completed a three-meet homestand where they enjoyed victories over Rutgers, Michigan and Minnesota. Nebraska will face Iowa before facing three non-conference opponents. The Huskers posted a season-high team score of 196.875 over Michigan and stayed consistent to post a 196.850 against Minnesota.

Last Routine

The Huskers moved up to No. 8 in the national rankings and is in the top ten on vault (No. 7), beam (No. 8) and floor (No. 9). Nebraska jumped into the top ten on floor after enjoying a team-high 49.475 in the event over Minnesota. Nebraska has hit every routine in the last three meets and Huskers have hit career-highs in every meet on the season. Nebraska’s Sienna Crouse remains undefeated in head-to-head competition on vault and posted the second-highest vault score in the nation with a 9.975. Megan Schweihofer hit a career-high 39.450 in the all-around after posting a career-high 9.95 on floor against Minnesota. Both Schweihofer and Abbie Epperson have hit a 39.450 in the all-around performance this season.

Scouting the Hawkeyes

Iowa comes into the meet with a 3-4 record overall, and 3-1 in the Big Ten. Iowa is coming off of their first conference loss after falling to Illinois on Feb. 2 on the road, leaving Nebraska alone at the top of the Big Ten standings. While the Hawkeyes have enjoyed recent conference victories, only two gymnasts have hit scores over 9.90, Nicole Chow on beam and Lanie Snyder on floor. Iowa’s season-high team score 196.00 was earned in a win over Maryland on Jan. 25.

Series History

Nebraska leads the all-time series with Iowa 25-5 and has won nine of the last 11 matchups since NU joined the Big Ten for the 2012 season. Last season against the Hawkeyes, Nebraska defeated Iowa in the regular season before being bested by the Hawkeyes at the Big Ten Championships.

Williams Tabbed Event Specialist of the Week

Nebraska women’s gymnast Grace Williams was named the Big Ten Event Specialist of the Week as announced by the conference on Monday, Feb. 5.

The award is Williams’ first career Big Ten Event Specialist of the Week honor, and comes after her event-winning performance on beam against Minnesota last Saturday. William’s scored a 9.925 to tie her season high and win the event. She also picked up a podium finish on vault with a 9.85. 

This is Nebraska’s third consecutive Event Specialist of the Week honor, as Sienna Crouse won the award for the last two weeks. It is also Nebraska’s fourth consecutive Big Ten Weekly Award, since Kynsee Roby won Freshman of the Week after the Huskers' opening weekend.

Minnesota’s Lexy Ramler was named Big Ten Freshman of the Week and Penn State’s Briannah Tsang was named Big Ten Gymnast of the Week.

Up Next

Nebraska will remain on the road to take on NCAA defending champion Oklahoma in Oklahoma, City, Okla. in the Perfect 10 Challenge on Feb. 16. Then the Huskers will return home to take on Pittsburgh on Feb. 24.