TEMPE, Ariz. – An afternoon full of season and career highs for the Arizona State women's gymnastics team (2-5, 0-2 Pac-12) helped them hit a 194+ for the first time in 2017. The Gym Devils ultimately fell to No. 5 UCLA (3-1, 2-0 Pac-12), 197.150-194.600.
"We continue to improve each week and I saw a lot of positive improvements this week," said head coach Jay Santos. "I thought our energy and focus was good the whole meet today and I also think we showed more fight and competitiveness in certain spots today."
Floor proved to be the best event for the Gym Devils, scoring a season high 48.950. Sophomores Corinne Belkoff and Justine Callis paced the team with a pair of 9.850s, a season high for Belkoff and a career high for Callis. Junior Nichelle Christopherson hit a season high 9.800 and freshman Mekayla Jones tied her career high 9.775.
On bars, freshman Ashley Szafranski had a career high day with a 9.875 to lead the Gym Devils to a season high 48.650. Szafranski's score was enough to tie for second place with UCLA's JaNay Honest. Sophomore Morgan Wilson hit a career high 9.775 while sophomore Katelyn Lentz posted a season high 9.750.
Vault proved to be another solid rotation for ASU with a season high 48.675, counting five scores of 9.700 or better. Belkoff, Lentz, and freshman Jessica Ginn all recorded scores of 9.750 while Wilson scored a 9.725.
"I think we really bookended the meet; vault started us really strong and floor finished really well with a lot of energy. That is probably the best we have looked on those two events. We had some struggles on bars but fought through and then we counted the fall on beam so we need to continue to work on those events and work to put it all together and hit 24 for 24 routines."
Szafranski had another career high on beam with a 9.800. Lentz also posted a 9.800 for a season high and senior Beka Conrad scored a 9.725 to contribute to the Gym Devils' 48.325 event total.
"Ashley (Szafranski) looked great tonight and we have been telling her all along that this is the kind of performance she is capable of. It was great to see her put it together and have a really strong meet," Santos said.
Lentz's 38.950 in the all-around was good enough for a season best and a second place finish behind the Bruin's Madison Kocian.
Up next, the Gym Devils hit the road again, traveling to Seattle, Wash. to face the No. 18 Washington Huskies on Saturday, Feb. 11 at 3 p.m. MT. The meet will be broadcasted live on the Pac-12 Network.
"We continue to improve each week and I saw a lot of positive improvements this week," said head coach Jay Santos. "I thought our energy and focus was good the whole meet today and I also think we showed more fight and competitiveness in certain spots today."
Floor proved to be the best event for the Gym Devils, scoring a season high 48.950. Sophomores Corinne Belkoff and Justine Callis paced the team with a pair of 9.850s, a season high for Belkoff and a career high for Callis. Junior Nichelle Christopherson hit a season high 9.800 and freshman Mekayla Jones tied her career high 9.775.
On bars, freshman Ashley Szafranski had a career high day with a 9.875 to lead the Gym Devils to a season high 48.650. Szafranski's score was enough to tie for second place with UCLA's JaNay Honest. Sophomore Morgan Wilson hit a career high 9.775 while sophomore Katelyn Lentz posted a season high 9.750.
Vault proved to be another solid rotation for ASU with a season high 48.675, counting five scores of 9.700 or better. Belkoff, Lentz, and freshman Jessica Ginn all recorded scores of 9.750 while Wilson scored a 9.725.
"I think we really bookended the meet; vault started us really strong and floor finished really well with a lot of energy. That is probably the best we have looked on those two events. We had some struggles on bars but fought through and then we counted the fall on beam so we need to continue to work on those events and work to put it all together and hit 24 for 24 routines."
Szafranski had another career high on beam with a 9.800. Lentz also posted a 9.800 for a season high and senior Beka Conrad scored a 9.725 to contribute to the Gym Devils' 48.325 event total.
"Ashley (Szafranski) looked great tonight and we have been telling her all along that this is the kind of performance she is capable of. It was great to see her put it together and have a really strong meet," Santos said.
Lentz's 38.950 in the all-around was good enough for a season best and a second place finish behind the Bruin's Madison Kocian.
Up next, the Gym Devils hit the road again, traveling to Seattle, Wash. to face the No. 18 Washington Huskies on Saturday, Feb. 11 at 3 p.m. MT. The meet will be broadcasted live on the Pac-12 Network.