Feb. 11, 2017
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – The No. 18 Ohio State women’s gymnastics team held on for a 195.950-195.850 win over Penn State Saturday afternoon at Rec Hall in University Park, Pa.
“We had a good team effort today and I’m happy for the team to get a Big Ten win on the road,” Carey Fagan, Ohio State head coach, said. “Penn State is a great competitive environment and I was happy to see the back end of our beam lineup fight for the win.”
Ohio State opened the meet with a season-best 49.225 on uneven bars. Kaitlyn Hofland led the Buckeyes with a career-high 9.925 to win the event while Olivia Aepli also earned a career-best 9.875.
The Buckeyes then moved to vault, posting a 48.925 in the second rotation. Alexis Mattern earned a 9.850 to take the event title.
At the midway point, Ohio State held a 98.150-97.600 lead over the Nittany Lions.
In the third rotation, the Buckeyes moved to floor exercise, tallying a 49.200. Mattern tied her career-best 9.925 to win the event while Stefanie Merkle earned a season-high 9.900 to tie for second.
Ohio State then concluded the meet with a 48.600 on uneven bars as Mattern, Merkle and Taylor Harrison each notched a 9.775.
Mattern tallied a career-high 39.400 for the second-consecutive week to tie for the all-around title.
The Buckeyes host West Virginia at 4 p.m. next Saturday.
