Rizkalla Posts Two 9.9s at New Hampshire

Saturday, March 2

Durham, N.H.

7:00 PM

Rutgers University

New Hampshire/Brown/NC State

Mar 02 | Women's Gymnastics

Results Season Statistics

Scarlet Knights continue consistency with 194.625 team score

DURHAM, N.H. – Competing on the road for the third-straight week, senior Jenna Rizkalla highlighted the Rutgers gymnastics trip to New Hampshire by posting a pair of 9.900 marks Saturday inside Lundholm Gymnasium. The Scarlet Knights totaled a 194.625 to reach at least 194 for the fifth consecutive meet and take third place in the quad gathering. The host Wildcats notched a 196, with NC State ending at 195.850 and Brown at 192.125.

"The team did a fantastic job tonight," head coach Umme Salim-Beasley said. "We had to go with two replacements on pretty much every event because Mia Betancourt is just coming back from a concussion and was only able to compete beam today. And we had to rest Riahanah Ali, doctor's orders. Nothing major, but she wasn't able to compete this week. That was an all-arounder for us that was down. But it really gave an opportunity for some of our other gymnasts to show what they're capable of doing. They did a very good job. They stepped into lineups and really put up scores that helped us have a solid team score."

Rizkalla was in three lineups for the first time since the 2018 Big Five meet at Rutgers, earning a 9.900 on both vault and floor exercise to tie for first on those events. It was the second time in her career she reached the score on floor exercise and first occasion on vault.

"Jenna Rizkalla was on fire today," Salim-Beasley said. "She stepped up in a big way. We counted all three of her scores. For her to have two 9.9s in one meet, it's pretty remarkable. And she did it away from home. That's really an exclamation point in her career because a lot of times away teams just don't score as high. That's a huge accomplishment for her."

Rizkalla matched her career high on balance beam to lead the Scarlet Knights with a 9.750 in the first rotation. Junior Kaitlyn Hall added a 9.725 to the team number of 48.225. RU will also start on beam at the Big Ten Championships later this month at Penn State.

RU logged a 49.000 on floor exercise to pick up at least that team score for the fourth time in 2019. Rizkalla notched her first 9.900 to match the meet high, while sophomore Belle Huang worked to a 9.850 and senior Michelle Amoresano contributed a 9.825. In addition, sophomore Toni Williams tumbled to a 9.750.

Continuing the momentum, Rizkalla capped her performance by running to a 9.900 vault. Her previous best was 9.850 last February in a home meet versus Ohio State. Hall registered a 9.775 as the anchor, as Amoresano collected a 9.725 and Huang a 9.700 for a 48.800.

The uneven bars lineup produced a 48.600 to wrap up the meet. Amoresano had her fourth 9.800 or better this season to lead the way. Junior Shannon Farrell logged a 9.725 in the sixth position and both Huang and freshman Abigail Karolewski swung to a 9.700.

Amoresano (38.875) and Huang (38.850) finished second and third, respectively, among the six all-around competitors in the meet.

The Scarlet Knights will return to the RAC for the senior meet on Friday at 7 p.m.

TOTAL SCORE: 194.625
VAULT: 48.800
UNEVEN BARS: 48.600
BALANCE BEAM: 48.225
FLOOR EXERCISE: 49.000

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