Huskers Set to Host Panthers in Pink Meet

No. 14 Nebraska Cornhuskers (5-1 Overall, 5-0 Big Ten) vs. Pittsburgh Panthers (4-9 Overall, 3-1 EAGL)

Saturday Feb. 24 at 7 p.m. at the Bob Devaney Sports Center

Pink Meet – Fans are invited to join the Huskers in wearing pink for breast cancer awareness, rally towels will be given to the first 500 fans.

LINCOLN – No. 14 Nebraska women’s gymnastics returns home to the Devaney Center to host Pittsburgh on Saturday night at 7 p.m. in the annual Pink meet, where fans are invited to wear pink in support of breast cancer awareness. Pink rally towels will be given to the first 500 fans.

Nebraska (5-1 Overall, 5-0 Big Ten) is coming off their only loss of the season, to top-ranked Oklahoma. Despite leading after the third rotation, the Huskers fell 196.425-196.175 on Feb. 16 at the Cox Convention Center in Oklahoma City, Okla. at the Perfect 10 Challenge. Nebraska was without major contributor Megan Schweihofer, but junior Sienna Crouse stepped into an all-around role where she posted a career-high all-around score of 39.550. Crouse claimed two event titles on vault and bars and was named the Big Ten Gymnast of the Week for her efforts.

On the season, Nebraska has posted a high score of 196.875 against Michigan on Jan. 27 this season, and a second-highest score of 196.850 against Minnesota a week later.

Scouting the Panthers

Pittsburgh, (4-9 Overall, 3-1 EAGL) is coming off a pair of losses at a tri-meet at West Virginia. West Virginia won the meet with a score of 196.225, while Maryland finished in second with a score of 195.825, and Pitt scored a 195.250. On the season, Pitt hit a high team score of 196.225 against New Hampshire on Jan. 20. Panthers Taylor Laymon, Megan Tripp and Haley Brechwald are gymnasts to watch for Pitt, as each have scored a 9.875 on an event or better this season. Laymon won the beam at the tri-meet at WVU last weekend, while Brechwald earned an event title on bars.

Series History

 In the all-time series against Pittsburgh, Nebraska leads 2-1. The last meeting against the Panthers was in 2002 where the Huskers won 195.950 – 190.975.

Crouse Named Big Ten Gymnast of the Week

Sienna Crouse was named Big Ten Gymnast of the Week on Feb. 19, announced by the conference, after posting a career-high all-around score of 39.550 against No. 1 Oklahoma last weekend.

Crouse earned the crowns on vault and bars and remains undefeated on vault through the 2018 season. This is her first career Big Ten Gymnast of the Week honor, but her third weekly honor from the Big Ten this season. Nebraska’s last Gymnast of the Week was awarded to Jennie Laeng on March 13, 2017 last season. This is Nebraska’s fifth Big Ten weekly honor this season.

The Big Ten named Ivy Lu of Minnesota the Event Specialist of the Week and Lauren Bridgens of Penn State Freshman of the Week.

Huskers Remain Top Dog in Big Ten

Through five weeks of competition, Nebraska remains alone atop the Big Ten standings. Nebraska opened its first five weeks in Big Ten competition, bookended by away meets at Penn State and Iowa. Nebraska’s crucial wins came over reigning Big Ten Champion Michigan, who split the 2017 regular season championship title with the Huskers, Minnesota, and Iowa.

Up Next

Nebraska will split between road and home meets next week, as the Huskers will travel to Elevate the Stage 2018 in Augusta, Ga. at 6:30 p.m. to take on Illinois, Georgia and Iowa State on Friday March 2, before returning home and hosting the Masters Classic on March 4 at 2 p.m.  Tickets are on sale at Huskers.com or by calling 1-800-8-BIGRED.