CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - Rutgers gymnastics fell on Sunday at No.24 Illinois in a Big Ten dual meet, scoring 194.925 as a team on the road. Rutgers scored two event wins with
Emily Leese topping the leaderboard in an event for the fifth time this season (vault), and
Rachael Riley scoring her first collegiate 9.9 to win beam.
- Emily Leese and Elia Aird finished first and second, respectively, in the vault. Leese edged her teammate with a 9.875, just topping Aird's 9.850. Those two vaults pushed Rutgers to another 49.025, the second consecutive week with the Scarlet Knights above a 49 in the event.
- Rachael Riley, in her fifth collegiate event, posted her first 9.900 while winning the beam, sticking her landing and executing a triple aerial series with no deductions.
- The consistent Emily Wood scored a 9.825 on floor to tie for third in the event.
- Emily Leese won her fifth event title in as many meets, and added her seventh overall Top-3 finish.
- Jacqueline Manifold (9.775) matched her career-best on bars, then hit a season-high 9.800 on beam.
- Anna Pagliaro hit her best vault of the season at 9.775.
- Rachael Riley produced another 9.775 on vault, her career high.
- Captain Stephanie Zannella pitched in an important 9.800 in the anchor spot on beam and a counted 9.750 on floor from the leadoff spot.
Vault: Emily Leese (9.875) – 1st of 12
Bars: Elia Aird (9.775) – T-5th of 12
Beam: Rachael Riley (9.900) – 1st of 12
Floor: Emily Wood (9.825) – T-3rd of 12
The Scarlet Knights return home to host Iowa in a Big Ten dual meet on Fri., Feb. 9 at 7 p.m. at Jersey Mike's Arena and streaming live on B1G+.
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