UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Rutgers gymnastics performed best on floor exercise to total a 194.175 as a team in the opening session of the Big Ten Championships hosted by Penn State Saturday at Rec Hall. The Scarlet Knights finish the season having recorded a 194 or better in the last nine meets and in 10 of the last 11.
 
No. 23 Ohio State ended at 195.775, with Michigan State (195.425) and Maryland (194.800) also in the meet.

"I think it was a successful end to our season," head coach Umme Salim-Beasley said. "It was not the outcome we wanted, knowing we are capable of more. We had a miss on beam to start, but came back strong on the next three events and we're proud of that. That's the story of this team this season. They have been resilient and didn't let the first event affect the rest of the meet. Overall, this team exceeded our expectations and the future is bright."
 
Rutgers posted five scored of 9.800 or better to register a 49.200 on floor exercise, tied for the fifth-best score on the event in program history. It was the sixth time reaching 49 this season. Sophomore Belle Huang led the way with a 9.875, while seniors Riahanah Ali and Michelle Amoresano both hit for a 9.850. Senior Jenna Rizkalla recorded a 9.825 and sophomore Sophia Atienza reached a career-high 9.800 to round out the countable scores.
 
The 9.875 from Huang matched Ali (2016), Claire Jones (2015) and Libby Groden (2015) for the highest score by a Scarlet Knight on the event at Big Ten Championships.
 
"Floor has been a strong event for us all season," Salim-Beasley said. "We didn't want the miss on beam to define this meet for us. They really cleared their heads and reset to put forth a determined effort."

All six runs on vault produced a 9.700 or better in the third rotation. Amoresano had the highest mark at 9.750, with Rizkalla following with a 9.725 on her attempt. Ali, junior Kaitlyn Hall, Huang and sophomore Toni Williams each earned a 9.700.
 
Freshman Abigail Karolewski paced the uneven bars lineup with a 9.775, her second-best score of the season. Sophomore Emily Drauss and junior Shannon Farrell both swung to a 9.750 to help RU total a 48.625 to close the meet.
 
The Scarlet Knights began with a 47.775 on balance beam. Amoresano, freshman Kiera Doherty-Herwitz and Hall all picked up a 9.700 in the first rotation.
 
Huang, a Second Team All-Big Ten selection, collected a 38.900 all-around score, with Amoresano ending with a 38.450.
 
The Scarlet Knights will await NCAA Regional selections, which will be announced Monday.
 
TOTAL SCORE: 194.175
VAULT: 48.575
UNEVEN BARS: 48.625
BALANCE BEAM: 47.775
FLOOR EXERCISE: 49.200
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