While the No. 3 Michigan Wolverines didn’t hit 24-for-24,
they performed well enough and counted high-enough scores to extend their
winning streak over the No. 17 Illinois Fighting Illini to 30 years. Michigan’s
four totals of 49-plus led to a 196.900 to defeat Illinois’s 195.150 as the
Wolverines started strong and led the way throughout as the Illini failed to
catch up.



The Illini had a solid start on vault with five Yurchenko
fulls scoring 9.700 or better to earn a 48.850, highlighted by senior Giana O’Connor’s
dynamic 9.850. Meanwhile, the Wolverines had an even better start and soared on
uneven bars, scoring no less than 9.825 to lead after the first rotation with a
49.300.

Unlike the first rotation, Illinois’s second was not solid.
After the first two routines having a fall, Illinois had to count a low score.
The mistakes didn’t faze the rest of the team, though, as the remaining four
gymnasts hit their routines, adding up to 48.275.

Michigan continued to score well on vault, highlighted by
Illinois-native Olivia Karas’s near-stuck Yurchenko 1.5 to earn a title-winning
9.950. After two rotations, Michigan led 98.550-97.125.

In the third rotation, the Illini mostly shook off the
hiccups on bars. While their routines weren’t as solid as they’d like, the Illini
hit majority of their beam routines to earn a 48.825 on head coach Kim Landrus’s
signature event.

On floor, the defending Big Ten champion Wolverines hit all
six routines and performed well on floor to score a 49.125, maintaining their
lead, 147.675-145.95.

The home team Orange and Blue saved the best for last with
five strong floor routines to earn their second event score above 49.000 for
the season, a 49.200. O’Connor’s dramatic and powerful combination of dance and
tumbling led the way for the whole meet with a season-high 9.950.

The Maize and Blue’s one less-than-ideal routine came on
beam, but there was no one left to faze, as it was their final non-exhibition
routine.

See the full results below. 





​Related
No. 17 Illinois Looks To Use Home-Field Advantage To End Michigan's Streak​​
No. 17 Illinois vs. No. 3 Michigan
Cancun Classic​
Georgia at Michigan