Jan. 4, 2008
Ashlee Hinkle had a career night as the Arizona State women's gymnastics team placed third overall at the Lady Luck Invitational in Las Vegas. The Glendale, Ariz., junior set career marks on vault and floor The Sun Devils compiled a score of 192.475. UCLA finished first (194.975) while Oregon State placed second 193.875.
Starting off on bars, the Sun Devils posted a team total of 47.750. Junior Tiana Jean, who was named captain for the meet, posted the team's highest score, a 9.775. Jean finished tied for fourth overall on bars. Tia Orlando performed in her first routine since her freshman season and recorded a 9.700 to place ninth. The Sun Devils had three freshmen in their lineup. Beaté Jones posted 9.650 in her Sun Devil debut while Francesca Mercurio scored a 9.550.
The Sun Devils moved onto beam, scoring 48.750. Orlando and Hinkle tied for second on beam by posting the team's highest scores with each scoring a 9.800. Orlando's score marked her career high. Jean and 2006 beam All-American Nicole Harris held the Sun Devils next highest score by tallying 9.775 each to tie for fourth. Sophomore Kaitlynn Bormann posted a 9.600.
Taking the floor in the third routine, the Sun Devils tallied a score of 48.075 after only putting five athletes in the lineup. Hinkle led the Devils by tying her career high with a 9.850 to tie for third. Jean earned a 9.800 on floor, tying for fifth overall. Brittany Schuett, who just joined the team this spring, recorded a 9.775. Jones also competed on floor for the Devils, posting a 9.650.
On vault, Hinkle continued to shine for the Sun Devils. The junior recorded a career-best 9.875 to tie for third overall. Freshman Jones earned a solid 9.800 in the event, placing eighth overall. Freshman Stephannie Moore, a native to the Las Vegas area, was the third highest-scoring Devil with a 9.725. Mary Atkinson posted a 9.575. The Sun Devils recorded a 47.900 in the event.
Jean and Jones both competed in the all-around for the Sun Devils, earning scores of 38.275 and 38.175 respectively.
The Sun Devils travel to the Midwest next week to compete against Nebraska on Sunday, January 13.