Rutgers University
Maryland/Ursinus/Cornell
Gymnastics Takes Second with 194.450
Feb 14 | Women's Gymnastics
PISCATAWAY, N.J. - Ending with a season-high 49.025 on floor exercise, Rutgers gymnastics scored a 194.450 to place second in a quad meet Saturday at the Livingston Gym. Maryland won the meet with a 195.375, with the Scarlet Knights finishing ahead of Cornell (192.700) and Ursinus (189.650).
Competing in front of 972 fans, it marked the fifth-consecutive sellout for RU dating back to last season. The team wore pink to support breast cancer awareness.
"We love performing in front of this type of crowd," head coach Louis Levine said. "It's definitely not a bad thing. The energy was great. The girl scouts that were here were really into it, so it's always fun. It's become the way we do things around here. We sellout, we put big and powerful crowds in the gym and we're going to continue to do that."
The Scarlet Knights were best in the fourth rotation on floor with a 49.025. All six competitors went over the 9.700 mark for Rutgers, as sophomore Claire Jones (Gaffney, S.C.) produced a season-high 9.875 total to pace the team. Senior Emma Hoffman (Union, N.J.) (9.825) and freshman Jenna Crisalli (Freehold, N.J.) (9.800) both registered career-highs, while sophomore April Baker (Andover, Mass.) contributed a 9.775. Sophomore Charly Santagado (Celebration, Fla.) landed a 9.750 and freshman Elizabeth Groden (Abbottstown, Pa.) added a 9.725 in the event to round out the lineup.
Rutgers began the meet on vault, producing a 48.200 team mark. Senior Luisa Leal (Cali, Colombia) and Baker went over the 9.800 threshold, producing a 9.850 and 9.825, respectively. For Leal, her score matched a season-high mark landed during RU's last home competition on Jan. 31. Groden landed a 9.750 and senior Sara Skammer (Dallas, Pa.) contributed a 9.700, the fourth time she has gone for at least a 9.700 in the event.
Four Scarlet Knights went over 9.700 on uneven bars, with junior Jenna Williams (Bordentown, Pa.) and Hoffman registering a 9.800. Santagado executed a 9.750 routine and Baker landed a 9.725, helping Rutgers earn a 48.750 team total.
For the third-consecutive meet, Jones was impressive on balance beam, securing a 9.825 in the event. Jones has not scored below a 9.800 this season. Leal also contributed a 9.750 towards the 48.475 team mark.
Groden competed all-around for the first time in her collegiate career, leading all gymnasts with a 38.775 all-around score on Saturday.
Rutgers will compete on the road next weekend with a quad meet at NC State Friday at 7 p.m. The final home meet will be March 7 at the RAC. Click here for tickets.
Follow Rutgers Athletics on Facebook and Twitter (@RUAthletics) for all of the latest news and updates. For specific updates regarding women's gymnastics, follow the program on Twitter (@RUGymnastics), Facebook and Instagram.
Players Mentioned
