Huskers Down Illinois in Record Night
Huskers Down Illinois in Record NightHuskers Down Illinois in Record Night
Women's Gymnastics

Huskers Down Illinois in Record Night

The Nebraska women’s gymnastics team (3-2, 1-0 Big Ten) recorded seven career highs and five event titles in a 196.875-196.400 victory over the No. 22 Illinois Fighting Illini (5-2, 0-1 Big Ten) in front of a crowd of 2,183 at the Bob Devaney Sports Center on Saturday night. The Huskers also earned season-high team scores in all four events to total the highest home-opening score since 2012. 

Emma Spence claimed a career-high of 9.950 on vault, joined by Martina Comin’s career-best 9.925 on vault. Ayzhia Hall grabbed her career high on beam with a 9.900. Sophia McClelland scored a career-best 9.950, also on beam. Csenge Bácskay added the Huskers’ third 9.950 of the night on floor, a career high for her. She also added a career-high 9.850 on bars. Whitney Jencks also notched a career high on floor with a 9.825.

Spence grabbed a title on vault, along with tying for the event title on bars with a 9.925. McClelland claimed the beam event title with her 9.950, and Bácskay tied for the floor event title. Spence scored a 39.475 across all events to win the all-around title.

Rotation One
The Huskers started the night on vault, with two athletes earning career-highs to contribute to a team score of 49.225. Emma Spence led the team with a personal-best 9.950, which also won the event title. She was closely followed by Martina Comin, who grabbed a career-best 9.925. Csenge Bácskay and Sophia McClelland both notched 9.800s, and Ayzhia Hall and Kinsey Davis rounded out the rotation with 9.750s.

Rotation Two
NU continued its home-opener on bars, with Spence again leading the team with a season-high 9.925, which tied for the event title. Bácskay and Simpton both posted scores of 9.850, with Bácskay's being a career high and Simpton’s being a season best. Big Ten Co-Event Specialist of the Week Kinsey Davis earned a 9.825 and Clara Colombo grabbed a season-high 9.800. Whitney Jencks recorded a 9.775 to finish out the rotation. The Big Red scored a 49.250 as a team.

Rotation Three
The third rotation featured the Huskers on beam with a team score of 48.975. McClelland led NU with a career-high score of 9.950, which also claimed the event title. Hall followed with a 9.900, a career best of her own. Allie Gard notched a 9.750, and Spence scored a 9.700. Isabel Sikon (9.675) and Simpton (9.050) rounded out the event.

Rotation Four
The Big Red ended the evening on floor, posting a team score of 49.425. Bácskay led Nebraska with a career-high score of 9.950 that also tied for the event title. Spence notched a 9.900, and was closely followed by Comin and McClelland with 9.875s. Jencks recorded a career-high 9.825 and Halle Rourke rounded out the rotation with a 9.775.

Up Next
The Huskers will face the Michigan Wolverines at the Bob Devaney Sports Center on Saturday, Jan. 27 at 3 p.m. (CT). The meet will be streamed on B1G+. Fans can buy tickets at huskers.com/tickets.