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.