KENT, Ohio – Rutgers gymnastics recorded a 195.175, its second-best number of the season, to take second in a Sunday quad meet at Kent State. Ball State won with a 195.325, while Kent State had a 192.550 and North Carolina finished at 192.325.

"I am so impressed with the determination this team has," head coach Umme Salim-Beasley said. "They are not phased by who they are competing against. We focus on the job we need to do, not in who we are competing against. Today I asked them all to compete with a purpose. Think about the outcome they wanted and to not back down from reaching it. Coming off of a Friday meet, we weren't sure the team would be rested enough to compete at their best. It just shows the toughness of this team for us to achieve the outcome we got today. We couldn't be more proud of the progress they are making every meet. A 195.175 on the road is a huge accomplishment."
 
The Scarlet Knights have posted a 194 or better in each of the past seven outings and in eight of the last nine. The season high of 196.050 was set Feb. 9. The 195.175 marked the best road score this season.
 
Starting on floor exercise, the Scarlet Knights totaled 49.100 to reach the 49 mark for the fifth time this season. Sophomore Belle Huang impressed to a 9.900, her third time earning at least that score in 2019. Senior Michelle Amoresano followed with a career-high 9.850, with classmate Riahanah Ali taking a 9.825. Senior Jenna Rizkalla registered a 9.800 and sophomore Sophia Atienza picked up a 9.725, her personal best on the event.
 
Rizkalla paced the lineup on vault with a 9.850 to match the meet high, leading to a 48.800. Junior Kaitlyn Hall and Huang both had a 9.750, as Ali and sophomore Toni Williams each added a 9.725.
 
Amoresano matched her career high on uneven bars by swinging to a 9.825, tying for first place. Freshman Abigail Karolewski brought her best performance of the year with a 9.800. Junior Shannon Farrell contributed a 9.775 as the anchor to the team's 48.425.
 
Finishing on balance beam, Hall picked up a career-high 9.825 and freshman Kiera Doherty-Herwitz collected a 9.800. Amoresano registered a 9.775. In addition, freshman Mia Betancourt and Huang both notched a 9.725. The 48.850 propelled the Scarlet Knights over 195 for the second time this season.
 
Amoresano (38.900) and Huang (38.750) were the only all-arounders in the quad meet.
 
RU will travel to Cornell next Sunday at 1 p.m. in the final tune-up before the Big Ten Championships on March 23.
 
TOTAL SCORE: 195.175
VAULT: 48.800
UNEVEN BARS: 48.425
BALANCE BEAM: 48.850
FLOOR EXERCISE: 49.100
 
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