April 4, 2009
The Arizona State women's gymnastics team finished fifth at the NCAA South Central Regional. The team scored a 193.9 to finish behind host Arkansas (196.3), Stanford (196.2), Michigan (195.7) and Arizona (194.35) and ahead of Southern Utah (192.65). Arkansas and Stanford will go onto to the NCAA Championships
Nicole Harris narrowly missed qualifying for the NCAA Champions as she scored a 39.125. The top two all-around performers from each non-qualifying school qualify for NCAAs as an individual. Harris and Elise Wheeler from Southern Utah were tied for that second spot, but a technicality caused Wheeler to qualify over Harris. Sophomore Beaté Jones scored a 38.8 in the all-around. The Sun Devils were without all-around Francesca Mercurio for the second straight meet as she is recovering from mono.
The Sun Devils got off to a shaky start on beam. The team had to count two falls and compiled a 47.85. Kaitlynn Bormann led the team on beam, earning a 9.8. Harris, who was ranked eighth on beam, scored a 9.725. Freshman Kelly Reilly, filling in for Mercurio, put up a 9.625 while Jones scored a 9.5. Tiana Jean had an uncharacteristic fall and scored a 9.2.
Stephanie Hangartner got the Sun Devils off to a solid start on floor with a 9.7. The rest of the team followed suit. Brittany Schuett and Mary Atkinson scored a 9.75 each while Jean and Harris tallied 9.8s. Jones had the highest floor score with a 9.825. The Sun Devils compiled a 48.925 on floor.
The team had a good showing on vault as well, earning a team-score of 48.8. Atkinson led the Devils with a 9.825. Harris and Jones each put up scores of 9.8 while Price earned a 9.775. Hangartner scored a 9.6 and Schuett earned a 9.525.
Despite solid vault and floor rotations, the Sun Devils ended shaky on bars. Harris led the team with 9.8 in her final set as a Sun Devil. Jean and freshman Kahoku Palafox each put up scores of 9.725 while Jones settled for a 9.675. The Sun Devils had to count Bormann's 9.4 to end up with a team score of 48.325.