Michigan State gymnastics earned its sixth-best team score in history, capturing a team scored 196.472 to breeze past Illinois State and Bowling Green in its home opener Saturday night at Jenison Field House.

Illinois State finished second with a scored of 192.625, while Bowling Green was third with a 192.400.

With the win, Michigan State has opened the season with a perfect 4-0 record. The Spartans pulled ahead with a wins on all four events and the all-around. Freshman Gabi Stephen captured her first all-around title with a score of 39.425, also earning a win on vault. Stephen's score was tied for seventh in MSU history with Sarah Alexander, who achieved the feat twice in 2003.

"We're ecstatic about tonight's results," Head Coach Mike Rowe commented. "This team is really starting to believe in themselves more and their confidence is rising, which is nice especially with us starting Big Ten competition next week against Iowa. It's going to help us a lot and give us a little bit of momentum."

Michigan State's 49.300 team scored on beam was tied for the fourth-best ever for the Spartans. MSU also reached that score at the Big Ten Championship at Minnesota on March 22, 1997. Last week, the Spartans started the season strong on the notoriously difficult beam with a scored of 49.200. 

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