No. 11 Spartans Finish Second at Big Four Meet

Sunday, March 1

Minneapolis, Minn.

4 PM ET/3 PM CT

Michigan State University

196.625

197.800

Minnesota

Photo by: Kelly Lynn

3/1/2026 6:41:00 PM | Women's Gymnastics

Results

MINNEAPOLIS – No. 11 Michigan State gymnastics scored a 196.625 to earn a second-place finish at the Big Four Meet to close the Big Ten portion of the regular season Sunday afternoon in Minneapolis. Host and 13th-ranked Minnesota won the meet, while Rutgers was third and Illinois finished fourth.

Minnesota scored a season-high 197.800 to secure the victory. Rutgers scored a 195.750 to narrowly defeat Illinois, which scored a 195.650. MSU moves to 8-5 overall with the result and finishes at 6-3 in conference action, while Minnesota improves to 9-3 (7-2 B1G), Rutgers falls to 6-7 (2-7) and Illinois drops to 4-11 (1-8).

Seeds for the Big Ten Championships will be announced by the conference later this week.

The Gophers used a big floor rotation (49.525) to take the lead over the second-place Spartans, who scored a 49.150 on bars. Senior Nikki Smith earned a team-leading 9.900 to finish third on the event, tying her season high. Senior Sage Kellerman and freshman Lilia Cosman each scored 9.825s, while junior MaKayla Tucker and senior Olivia Zsarmani posted matching 9.800s.

MSU scored a 49.125 on beam to sit behind the Gophers, 98.750-98.275, at the halfway point. Tucker led the Spartans with a career-high-tying 9.900 in the third spot. Smith scored a 9.850, junior Isabella Trostel scored a 9.825 and sophomore Cady Duplissis and Cosman each scored 9.775s.

The Spartans scored a 49.275, their highest event score of the night, on floor to remain in second place behind Minnesota after three rotations. Tucker earned her fifth score of 9.925 or better on the event to lead the Spartans with a 9.925, earning a share of her second floor title of the season. Junior Gabi Ortiz just missed a career high with a 9.875, while freshman Korynne Marquart scored a 9.850 in the second spot alongside Smith in the anchor position. Duplissis scored a 9.775 in the third spot.

MSU wrapped the afternoon on vault with a 49.075. Kellerman and Smith led the Spartans with 9.850s to earn a share of second place. Tucker and Duplissis scored 9.800s and Zsarmani earned a 9.775.

Smith finished third in the all-around with a 39.450. Tucker posted a 39.425 to finish fourth.

Up next, MSU travels to Auburn, Alabama to take on Auburn on Friday, March 6 at 8 p.m. ET. The meet will stream on SEC Network+.