Huskers Face Florida in Final Dual Meet

No. 13 Nebraska Cornhuskers (11-2 Overall, 5-0 Big Ten) at No. 5 Florida Gators (7-2 Overall, 5-2 SEC)
Friday, March 9, Gainesville, Fla., 5:45 p.m. CT
Watch on SEC Network
Live Stats 

LINCOLN, Neb. – No. 13 Nebraska women’s gymnastics will travel to Gainesville, Fla., to face the No. 5 Florida Gators in their final dual meet of the 2018 season on Friday at 5:45 p.m. CT.

Nebraska is coming off its best weekend of the 2018 season, where the Huskers posted their best score away from home with a 196.700 at Elevate the Stage 2018 in Augusta, Ga., and their season-high score of 197.175 at home at the Masters Classic. Nebraska won the team title at Elevate the Stage, defeating then-No. 17 Georgia (195.825), Illinois (195.900) and Stanford (195.925). Nebraska then returned home to host the Masters Classic and finished in second with a 197.175, behind No. 2 UCLA (197.500). Iowa State finished in third (195.575) while Kent State finished in fourth (194.700). 

The Huskers were led by Taylor Houchin who posted a 9.875 and 9.975, at Elevate and the Masters Classic, respectively, in her season-debut on vault. The Huskers had team season highs on vault with a 49.475 and on bars with a 49.325. The Huskers had three gymnasts post scores of 9.90 or better on vault. 

Scouting the Gators 
Florida (7-2 Overall, 5-2 SEC) is coming off a loss to SEC foe Missouri, 196.700 - 196.925, last Friday night in Columbia, Mo. Florida has a Regional Qualifying Score (RQS) of 197.325, and has posted a season-high 198.150 on the year. Florida is led by Alex McMurtry, who has posted perfect 10.0s on vault and balance beam this season. Alicia Boren is also a top-10 all-around competitor nationally this season, and has posted a season-high all-around score of 39.600.  

Series History 
All-time against Florida, Florida leads the series 24-10. The Huskers and Gators last met in 2017 when the Gators defeated the Huskers 197.8125 - 197.2125. 

Houchin Tabbed Big Ten Event Specialist of the Week 
Nebraska women's gymnast Taylor Houchin has been named Big Ten Event Specialist of the Week for the week of March 6, as announced by the conference on Tuesday, following her stellar performances at two meets last weekend. 

Houchin posted four top-five finishes on vault and bars over two meets last weekend, at Elevate the Stage 2018 in Augusta, Ga. on Friday, March 2, and at the 28th Annual Masters Classic on Sunday, March 4 in Lincoln, Neb. Houchin started the weekend with a score of 9.875 in her season-debut on vault at Elevate to tie for second on the podium. She continued on to uneven bars at Elevate where she tied for second on the podium with a score of 9.90. 

At the Masters Classic in Lincoln, in just her second vault of the 2018 season, Houchin posted a near-perfect and career-high score of 9.975, receiving a perect 10 score from one judge, on vault to win the event title. She rounded out the weekend with a 9.875 to tie for fifth in the loaded field. 

The weekly award is Houchin's first of the season, first event specialist of the week honor, and fifth Big Ten weekly honor overall. The award is Nebraska's seventh this season, who is in the Big Ten driver's seat with a perfect 5-0 conference record. 

Briannah Tsang from Penn State was named the Big Ten Gymnast of the Week while Nicole Biondi of Illinois and Lauren Bridgens of Penn State were named Big Ten Co-Freshmen of the Week. 

Up Next 
After meeting Florida, the Huskers will continue the fight for the Big Ten Championship, as they travel to Michigan State for the B1G Five Meet on Saturday, March 17 and then to Illinois for the Big Ten Championships on March 24.