March 18, 2006
The No. 12 Arizona State University gymnastics team lost No. 19 University of Denver, 196.475-196.125, Saturday at Hamilton Gymnasium in Denver, Colo., in the final regular-season meet of the year. The team score was ASU's second-best road score of the campaign. ASU is now 11-4.
One of ASU's most decorated gymnasts, senior Ashley Kelly, dominated in her final career regular-season meet as she won her 21st all around title, a school record, with a 39.375. Freshman Nicole Harris was second with a score of 39.225.
The Sun Devils started the meet on the uneven parallel bars with a score of 48.95, their highest away meet score of 2006. Kelly led the Sun Devils with a 9.85, good for a tie for third-place with Katie Andrews of Denver. Denver's Courtney Butler and Jessica Lopez tied for first-place at 9.9. Freshman Nicole Harris was fifth (9.8).
On vault, ASU junior Cassandra Jusino led the way, winning with a 9.9. Sun Devil senior Lauren Powell tied for second (9.875) with a season-high. Heather Huffaker was Denver's top finisher with a 9.875, tying with Powell. Kelly was fourth (9.825). The Sun Devils recorded their second-best road vault score (49.1) of the campaign.
In the third rotation on the balance beam, the Sun Devils scored 49.0 as a team, led by Kelly, who tied for second with a 9.9 with Denver's Lauren Garan. Jessica Lopez (9.95) of Denver placed first. Harris tied for fourth with a 9.825.
On floor, ASU posted a 49.075, led by junior April Boone who scored 9.875 to tie for third. Casey Dobyns and Sarah Sullivan of Denver tied for first (9.9).
The Sun Devils now enter postseason competition next Saturday, March 25 at the 2006 Pacific-10 Conference Championships at Oregon State University, beginning at 6 p.m. PT.