Jan. 16, 2009
Until the final event, the Arizona State women's gymnastics team looked to be in good shape to win the event. The team fell 194.475-194.725 to the No. 10 ranked Tigers. Nicole Harris scored a 39.300 to place second in the all-around behind Sarah Shire while Tiana Jean earned a 39.075 to take third.
The Sun Devils started the meet off right with a 48.825 on vault. Showing there is no such thing as a sophomore slump, Jones nailed her vault, tying her career-best 9.9 to start the season off right and winning the apparatus. Her score would put her at third nationally prior to this meet. Mary Atkinson also hit her career-high, putting up a 9.825. Harris tallied a 9.8 in her first routine back as a Sun Devil. Jean earned a 9.725, .25 off her career-high. Two freshmen, Callie Price and Kelly Reilly, also competed on vault scoring 9.5 and 9.575 respectively. The Tigers compiled a 49.175 on vault.
The Sun Devils immensely improved on bars this season as their score of 48.925 would have been their second-highest last season. With three years of experience, Harris and Jean tied for first on bars with scores of 9.85. Francesca Mercurio and freshman Kahoku Palafox also put in two solid scores as each tallied 9.750. Jones scored a 9.725 on the apparatus. Mizzou scored a 48.025 on bars.
On beam, Jean led the way. With a near-perfect routine, the senior from Puyallup, Wash., tied her career-high with a 9.9. Junior Kaitlynn Bormann performed her way to a new personal-best with a 9.850. Harris kept putting together strong scores as the former elite scored a 9.825 on beam. Mercurio earned a 9.725 and Jones scored a 9.550. The Sun Devils scored a 48.850 on the event.
The Sun Devils, who had been leading the Tigers the entire meet, fell behind on floor and put up a 47.875. Harris led the team with a 9.825. Normally consistent Jones and Jean both faltered on their final pass and scored of 9.6 and 9.25. Brittany Schuett tallied a 9.675 while Atkinson earned a 9.575.
The Sun Devils hit the road next week and head to Stanford for their Pac-10 opener.