Ohio State Scores a 196.775 in Season Opener at LSU

Friday, January 5

Baton Rouge, LA

8:30 p.m. (7:30 p.m. CT)

Ohio State

196.775

196.975

LSU

Ohio State women's gymnastics team huddle

Ohio State Scores a 196.775 in Season Opener at LSU

1/5/2024 11:20:00 PM | Women's Gymnastics

ADDITIONAL INFO: Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | Tickets | Final Results

COLUMBUS, Ohio – The No. 14 Ohio State women's gymnastics team scored a 196.775 in its first meet of the 2024 season at No. 3 LSU Friday night at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center in Baton Rouge, La. The Buckeyes finished two tenths of a point shy of the Tigers, who scored a 196.975.

For the second year in a row, Ohio State opens the season with a 196.775, the best season-opening score in program history.

The Buckeyes won the beam title, outscoring LSU, 49.050-48.700 on the apparatus. Ella Hodges scored the first 9.900 of the season for the Scarlet and Gray with a 9.950 on floor to win the event title. Payton Harris (39.450) and Tory Vetter (39.375) both competed in the all-around.

Rotation by Rotation

The Buckeyes started the meet on uneven bars. Payton Harris led the way with a 9.875 on the apparatus. She was followed by Tory Vetter and Nicole Riccardi with 9.850s and Emma Pritchard and Sidney Washington with 9.775s. Freshman Samara Buchanan made her collegiate debut, scoring a 9.725 in her first routine. The team earned an event score of 49.125.
Ohio State improved on its opening rotation score with a 49.300 on vault. Washington, Riccardi and Harris tied for the team lead, and third overall, with 9.875s. Vetter scored a 9.850 and Kaylyn Mintz rounded out the Buckeyes scoring routines with a 9.825.
Ohio State took the lead after the third rotation with a 49.300 on floor. Hodges' 9.950 paced the team. Harris was second for the Buckeyes with a 9.875, followed by Vetter (9.850), Mintz (9.825), Grimes (9.800) and Washington (9.775).
Leading the team in the final rotation was Alexis Hankins with a 9.850 on beam. Harris, Vetter and Pritchard all scored 9.825s and the Buckeyes counted Hodges' 9.750 as its fifth score of the rotation.

Next Up
Ohio State hosts its home opener Sunday, Jan. 14 at 2 p.m. with a tri meet against Ball State and Towson at the Covelli Center. The meet will also be streamed on B1G+ (subscription required). Single meet and season tickets for the Ohio State women's gymnastics home slate are now available. Click HERE to purchase or learn more about available ticket options.

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