COLLEGE PARK, Md. – Propelled by a 48.925 on vault in the fourth rotation, Rutgers gymnastics rallied to take second place with a 193.950 in a quad meet hosted by Maryland Sunday at XFINITY Center. The Terrapins claimed first with a 196.575, while the Scarlet Knights topped both William & Mary (193.650) and Brown (193.325).
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"This team has so much fight in it," head coach
Louis Levine said. "We were without a couple of lineup regulars today and everyone stepped up and performed. Our vault lineup really closed out the meet on a high note. There were great individual performance from many, including Micki's beam and Belle's vault. Also, Hannah stepped in for the first time and did a great job on floor."
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Competing in her home state, freshman
Belle Huang led RU and tied for the meet high with a 9.875 vault, her best yet. Senior
Jenna Rizkalla followed closely behind at 9.825, while freshman
Toni Williams also set a career best by posting a 9.800. In addition, freshman
Sophia Atienza contributed a 9.750 and sophomore
Emma Karas added a 9.675 to round out the five-gymnast 48.925 total, tied for the highest this season.
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The Scarlet Knights started the afternoon on uneven bars and collected a 47.725. Junior
Michelle Amoresano returned to the lineup with a 9.800, which tied her personal high also reached two other times. Sophomore
Shannon Farrell continued her consistency at 9.750, as she has gathered at least a 9.700 in each of the five meets in 2018. Senior
Makenzey Shank swung to a 9.725.
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Moving to balance beam, Shank earned a first-place finish for the second-straight week with a 9.875 routine. That tied for her best so far this season. Huang impressed to her second 9.800 of the day with that score, now having gathered at least that mark in 3-of-5 outings. Sophomore
Erin McLachlan went for a 9.775, with Farrell bringing in a 9.700 to help to a 48.700.
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Rizkalla paced Rutgers on floor exercise with a 9.775 and Huang followed by scoring a 9.750. Williams (9.725) and Farrell (9.675) also impacted the team's 48.600, while freshman
Hannah Prieto notched a 9.675 in her lineup debut.
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Huang ended up at 38.425 in her third career all-around performance.
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Having wrapped up regular season Big Ten competition until the Big Five meet at the RAC on March 17, the Scarlet Knights will next head to the SEC for a Friday meet versus Auburn. The dual will start at 8 p.m. ET.
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TOTAL SCORE: 193.950
VAULT: 48.925
UNEVEN BARS: 47.725
BALANCE BEAM: 48.700
FLOOR EXERCISE: 48.600
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