CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Rutgers gymnastics totaled a 194.400 to top Michigan State and take third place in the opening session of the Big Ten Championships hosted by Illinois inside the State Farm Center. The meet was live on Big Ten Network, with Nebraska scoring a 196.950, Penn State at 195.500 and the Spartans at 194.275.
 
"It was a great team showing," head coach Louis Levine said. "This team came together to compete for each other today. They fought for every tenth and really represented themselves and Rutgers well."
 
Freshman Belle Huang highlighted the day with a 39.025 all-around mark to take third place in the session. It was her second-highest score as rookie and the highest by a RU gymnast in four trips to the Big Ten Championships. Senior Libby Groden collected a 38.900 in her 47^th career meet and 39^th time competing in all four events.
 
The Scarlet Knights started off on balance beam and recorded a 48.675. Senior Makenzey Shank led the way with a 9.800, her 35^th career routine reaching the mark. Huang followed with a 9.750, while Groden and sophomore Erin McLachlan both contributed a 9.725.
 
Moving to floor exercise, Huang posted the best Rutgers score of the meet with a 9.825. That helped the lineup bring in a 48.975, which made it the sixth time this season the event scored best. The trio of junior Riahanah Ali, junior Jenna Rizkalla and Shank all notched a 9.800, with Groden performing to a 9.750.
 
Huang also paced the vault group at 9.775, as Ali, junior Michelle Amoresano and freshman Sophia Atienza all ran to a 9.700 in a 48.550 team total. Uneven bars finished at 48.200. Amoresano registered a 9.800 and Groden added a 9.750. For Groden and Shank, it was their final team meet as Scarlet Knights.
 
Rutgers will now await individual NCAA Regional selections.
 
TOTAL SCORE: 194.400
VAULT: 48.550
UNEVEN BARS: 48.200
BALANCE BEAM: 48.675
FLOOR EXERCISE: 48.975


 
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 (/RUGymnastics), Instagram (@rutgersgymnastics) and Snapchat (rutgersgym).