Feb. 16, 2008

Results

EAST LANSING, Mich. - Despite trailing after three rotations, the No. 22 Michigan State gymnastics team came from behind to beat No. 26 Illinois, 194.750-194.425, tonight at Huff Hall. The win, which improves the Spartans to 7-2 on the season, marks the first Big Ten dual meet win for MSU since Jan. 21, 2006 at Ohio State.

The Spartans started on the bars and were led by a tie for third by junior Katlyn Roggensack and Emily Lopatofsky. The pair, along with Marijka Botterman of Illinois, scored a 9.700. Illinois' Sarah Schmidt posted a 9.775 to win the event and push the Illini to a team score of 48.500. Meanwhile, MSU had a team score of 48.100.

Sophomore Rochelle Robinson continued her high level of success on the vault, winning her third individual title of the season and her 10th in 19 career meets. Robinson scored a 9.875 to top Illinois' Allison Buckley for first place. Sophomore Nicole Curler and freshman Kelsey Morley tied for fourth with a 9.750. The Spartans totaled 48.700, while the Illini had 48.725 to increase their lead after two rotations.

Moving to the floor, the Spartans were led by a pair of career highs, to inch them closer to Illinois with only one rotation remaining. Lopatofsky tied her career best of 9.825 to place second. Curler was right behind her in third with a 9.775 and freshman Kathryn Mahoney set a new career high with a 9.750 to finish in fourth. Allison Buckley of Illinois won the event with a 9.850. MSU's 48.750 moved the visitors within three-tenths of a point entering the final event.

A team season-high on the beam of 49.200 pushed the Spartans past Illinois as the night concluded. MSU had the top-three individual scores on the apparatus, highlighted by a season-high 9.900 by Morley for her second career individual title. Sophomore Kelly Moffitt had a career best mark and finish with a 9.875 to tie Curler for second.

Curler, the lone Spartan all-arounder tonight, placed second with a 38.800, narrowly behind Allison Buckley, who posted a 39.150.

Tonight's meet will be televised on the Big Ten Network on a tape delay on Thursday, Feb. 21 at 6 p.m. ET.

The Spartans remian on the road next weekend, as they travel to Iowa for a 2 p.m. start on Sunday, Feb. 24.