March 14, 2008
The No. 22 Gym Devils ended their home schedule on a high note as the team recorded a season-high score to beat the Ohio State Buckeyes 196.175-194.150. The Sun Devils swept the all-around competition. Freshman Francesca Mercurio earned a career-best all-around score of 39.25 to take first. Tiana Jean was not far behind her with a career-best 39.225, placing second. Beaté Jones also had a career-best in the all-around with a 39.075 to place third.
The Sun Devils started out strong on vault. Two freshmen were the top scoring Sun Devils. Jones had a career-best 9.9 after sticking a high and nearly perfect vault. Mercurio also had a nice vault, scoring a career-high 9.875. Ashlee Hinkle earned a 9.8 on a solid vault. Mary Atkinson scored 9.725 while Jean had a solid 9.7. Brittany Schuett landed her first 10.0 start value vault, tallying a 9.675. Both the Sun Devils and the Buckeyes compiled scores of 49.000 on vault.
On bars, the Sun Devils earned a team score of 48.8 on bars. Tia Orlando led the Sun Devils by tying her career-high with a 9.85. Jean hit her routine, scoring a solid 9.825. Mercurio stuck her landing and tallied a 9.8 on the apparatus. Earning a career-best, Kaitlynn Bormann scored a 9.725 on bars. Jones finished her routine with a solid 9.6. The Buckeyes earned a 48.2 on bars. The Sun Devils led after two rotations with scores of 97.8-97.2.
The Sun Devils earned their best beam score this season with a 49.225. Jean tied the career-high she earned last week with a 9.9. Orlando shined on beam, tying her career high with a 9.875. Hinkle and Mercurio both performed their way to scores of 9.825. Mercurio's score marked her career-best. Bormann finished her solid night with a 9.8 on beam. Jones also hit her routine with a career-best 9.750. Ohio State struggled on beam and scored 48.075.
The Sun Devils scored their second-highest team floor score of the year with a 49.150. Orlando returned to the floor for the first time since her freshman year. Orlando, who was the 2003 Pan American Games floor champion, won the event with a career-best 9.875. Schuett, Jones and Hinkle each earned scores of 9.825. Schuett's score marked a career-best for the freshman. Jean also had a nice routine, recording a 9.8. Mercurio also had a career-high 9.750. OSU finished with a 48.875 on floor.
The Sun Devils travel to Missouri next weekend for their final regular season meet. The meet is on Friday March 21st.