Feb. 20, 2009
TUCSON, Ariz. - The Arizona State women's gymnastics team earned a season-high 195.250 in their loss to the Arizona Wildcats who scored a 195.750. The Sun Devils two all-arounders, Nicole Harris and Beaté Jones placed first and second in the all-around. Harris won with a 39.250 while Jones recorded a 39.125.
Beginning the meet on bars, Kaitlynn Bormann took first on bars. The New Yorker earned a 9.825 after hitting her set. Harris stuck her landing to score a 9.8 and tie for second. Other than a step on her landing, senior Tiana Jean had a nice routine to tally a 9.775. Francesca Mercurio recorded a 9.75 as did Jones. Freshman Kahoku Palafox set a new career-high with a 9.7. The Sun Devils scored a 48.9 on bars while the Cats earned a 48.85.
Switching up the vault lineup some, the team scored 48.9. Mary Atkinson, Harris and Jones each hit for a 9.8. Freshman Callie Price set a new personal standard with a 9.775 as did Kelly Reilly with a 9.725. Stephanie Hangartner competed on vault for the first time as a Sun Devil, earning a 9.725 in the effort.
The Gym Devils performed their way to a season-high 49.25 on floor. The two all-arounders Harris and Jones again led the way for the Devils, which each scoring a 9.825 to tie for first. Jean was slightly short in her final pass and given a 9.8. Hangartner tied with Jean with a career-best 9.8. Brittany Schuett performed her way to a 9.775.
The Sun Devils had not had a fall the entire meet and were tied with Arizona going into the final rotation, but two falls on beam put the Sun Devils back. Amber Hammerschmidt earned a 9.8 after a successful beam routine. Harris and Jean tied her with scores of 9.8 as well. The trio tied for second. Jones scored a 9.75. Mercurio fell on her front tuck and was given a 9.275 while Bormann fell on her series.
The Sun Devils return home next week to compete against Washington on Friday. The meet, which will also have the ASU men's club gymnastics team competing, starts at 7:00 p.m. at Wells Fargo Arena.