Friday, March 1
East Lansing, Mich.
7 PM
Michigan State University
197.725
vs
195.725
New Hampshire
Photo by: Kelly Branigan
No. 8 Spartans Record Fourth-Highest Score in School History to Defeat New Hampshire
3/1/2024 10:18:00 PM | Women's Gymnastics
EAST LANSING, Mich. - With its fourth-highest score in school history, No. 8 Michigan State gymnastics defeated New Hampshire, 197.725-195.725, Friday night in Jenison Field House. MSU's 197.725 was its best home score and second-highest overall score of the season.
With the victory, the Spartans improved to 13-3 overall in 2024.
"Part of the process and part of what we've been trying to do is leaving the last meet behind us and aiming for the next one," said head coach Mike Rowe. "What was really great about this is we got a high 197, which is going to help our NQS for the rankings and seeding in the postseason. They're still hungry, they're still not done. They still want to do more, but they're having a blast doing it."
Michigan State took the top two spots in the all-around, with junior Skyla Schulte winning with a 39.525, while junior Gabrielle Stephen was second with 39.325. Schulte has now earned five all-around titles in six all-around appearances this season.
MSU took an early 49.475-48.900 lead with a strong start on vault. Sophomore Nikki Smith won the vault with a perfect 10.000, the Spartans' sixth perfect score on vault in school history and third this season. It was also the second career 10.000 for Smith on vault, previously earning the score against Bowling Green and LIU on March 5, 2023, and second 10.000 of the season after scoring a 10.000 on floor vs. Iowa on Jan. 28. Sophomore Olivia Zsarmani, freshman MaKayla Tucker and Stephen all tied for second with matching 9.875 scores. Tucker tied her season high with her vault. Kellerman and Schulte scored 9.850s.
The Spartans scored a 49.375 on bars to take a 98.850-97.800 lead at the halfway point. Kellerman won her second career and season bars title with 9.925. Schulte, Zsarmani and senior Delanie Harkness tied for second with scores of 9.875, with Zsarmani earning a season high, while Stephen scored a 9.825 and Smith scored a 9.800.
MSU continued its dominant night on beam with a score of 49.350. The Spartans took the top four spots on beam, led by a pair of 9.900s from senior Baleigh Garcia and senior Giana Kalefe. Schulte finished third with a score of 9.875, while Tucker was tied for fourth with a score of 9.850.
Michigan State ended the triumphant night on floor exercise with a score of 49.525, which tied for the ninth-best in MSU history. Harkness, Schulte and Tucker, who all earned scores of 9.925, finished in a three-way tie for first. Tucker's 9.925 was a career high and marked the second event title of the season for the rookie on floor. Fifth-year senior Nyah Smith recorded a season high 9.875 on floor, tying sophomore Elle Beaufait for fourth.
The Spartans will conclude their regular-season home schedule with a quad meet against Central Michigan, Fisk and Greenville on Saturday, March 9 at 2 p.m. The meet will serve as MSU's Senior Day.
With the victory, the Spartans improved to 13-3 overall in 2024.
"Part of the process and part of what we've been trying to do is leaving the last meet behind us and aiming for the next one," said head coach Mike Rowe. "What was really great about this is we got a high 197, which is going to help our NQS for the rankings and seeding in the postseason. They're still hungry, they're still not done. They still want to do more, but they're having a blast doing it."
Michigan State took the top two spots in the all-around, with junior Skyla Schulte winning with a 39.525, while junior Gabrielle Stephen was second with 39.325. Schulte has now earned five all-around titles in six all-around appearances this season.
MSU took an early 49.475-48.900 lead with a strong start on vault. Sophomore Nikki Smith won the vault with a perfect 10.000, the Spartans' sixth perfect score on vault in school history and third this season. It was also the second career 10.000 for Smith on vault, previously earning the score against Bowling Green and LIU on March 5, 2023, and second 10.000 of the season after scoring a 10.000 on floor vs. Iowa on Jan. 28. Sophomore Olivia Zsarmani, freshman MaKayla Tucker and Stephen all tied for second with matching 9.875 scores. Tucker tied her season high with her vault. Kellerman and Schulte scored 9.850s.
The Spartans scored a 49.375 on bars to take a 98.850-97.800 lead at the halfway point. Kellerman won her second career and season bars title with 9.925. Schulte, Zsarmani and senior Delanie Harkness tied for second with scores of 9.875, with Zsarmani earning a season high, while Stephen scored a 9.825 and Smith scored a 9.800.
MSU continued its dominant night on beam with a score of 49.350. The Spartans took the top four spots on beam, led by a pair of 9.900s from senior Baleigh Garcia and senior Giana Kalefe. Schulte finished third with a score of 9.875, while Tucker was tied for fourth with a score of 9.850.
Michigan State ended the triumphant night on floor exercise with a score of 49.525, which tied for the ninth-best in MSU history. Harkness, Schulte and Tucker, who all earned scores of 9.925, finished in a three-way tie for first. Tucker's 9.925 was a career high and marked the second event title of the season for the rookie on floor. Fifth-year senior Nyah Smith recorded a season high 9.875 on floor, tying sophomore Elle Beaufait for fourth.
The Spartans will conclude their regular-season home schedule with a quad meet against Central Michigan, Fisk and Greenville on Saturday, March 9 at 2 p.m. The meet will serve as MSU's Senior Day.
Players Mentioned
All-Around
/ Women's Gymnastics
All-Around
/ Women's Gymnastics
All-Around
/ Women's Gymnastics
VT, BB, FX
/ Women's Gymnastics
All-Around
/ Women's Gymnastics
All-Around
/ Women's Gymnastics
All-Around
/ Women's Gymnastics
All-Around
/ Women's Gymnastics
All-Around
/ Women's Gymnastics
All-Around
/ Women's GymnasticsNot Done Yet | Spartans All-Access
Tuesday, April 08
Competing Together | Spartans All-Access
Thursday, March 13
Breslin Debut | Michigan State Gymnastics
Wednesday, January 22
Spartans All-Access: Back to Back B1G Titles
Friday, March 15