March 10, 2000
TEMPE, Ariz. - The 15th-ranked Arizona State women's gymnastics team concluded its regular season with a 195.800-195.200 victory over Pac-10 rival Arizona Friday night in Wells Fargo Arena, during which the Sun Devils established eight personal best scores. ASU has now defeated 29 consecutive opponents over its past 20 regular season home meets, a streak dating back to the 1996 season.
Arizona State set the tone for a night of record-breaking performances during its opening rotation on the vault, where the first three Sun Devil performers all set new career highs. Junior Kim Skinner led off with a 9.8, and was followed by freshman Margaret Wojciak's 9.825 and another 9.8 from freshman Cassidy Vreeke. A 9.85 from senior Michelle Hess and 9.775 performance from junior Kelly Christensen-Cowley also contributed to ASU's season best 49.050 vault total.
On bars Christensen-Cowley notched a new personal high of her own with a winning score of 9.925. Also establishing a new career best was junior Kristin Fanning, whose second place, 9.9 mark helped ASU reach 49.300 as a team, also a new best for the 2000 season.
For the second week in a row, the Devils (13-4 overall, 4-2 in the Pac-10) encountered three falls on the balance beam, but still managed to keep the personal best trend going. Vreeke's 9.875 performance, her second career best mark of the evening, gave the Salt Lake City, Utah native the first victory of her collegiate career. Despite Arizona State's sub-par showing on the beam, the Wildcats (5-10) could make up little ground as they scored a 48.250 in floor competition.
ASU sealed the victory with season best 49.275 team total during which two more individual career highs were set. Christensen-Cowley concluded her stellar meet with her second place 9.95 outing, while freshman Ashley Ellsberry (9.75) also reached a new plateau in her young Sun Devil career. Senior Elizabeth McNabb, who has a perfect 10.0 on her resume from a 1999 meet against Pittsburgh, won the event with a season best 9.975. Friday's meet marked the final regular season home competition for McNabb, Hess and fellow senior Elizabeth Reid.
Arizona sophomore Randi Liljenquist won the all-around competition with a 39.375 total. UA senior Heidi Hornbeek rebounded from a scary fall on her first vault attempt to emerge victorious in the event at 9.925.
The Sun Devils will return to the Wells Fargo Arena floor Saturday, March 18 when they host the Pac-10 Women's Gymnastics Championships beginning at 6:00 p.m. Seats are available by calling the Sun Devil Ticket Office at (480) 965-2381.