April 20, 2006
CORVALLIS, Ore. - Despite hitting all 24 of their routines, the Arizona State women's gymnastics team saw its season come to an end on day one of the NCAA Championships on Thursday night. The Sun Devils scored a 195.575 and finished in fourth place in the evening session. Combined with the scores from the afternoon session, ASU finished its season No. 9.
Winning the evening session with a 197.275 was the University of Georgia. Iowa State followed in second place with a 196.25 and Florida came in third with a 196.225. Finishing in fifth place was host school Oregon State with a 195.15 and in sixth place was Arkansas with a 194.375.
By virtue of being the top three finishers, Georgia, Florida and Iowa State advanced to Friday night's Super Six. They will be joined by Nebraska, Alabama and Utah, who advanced from the afternoon session.
Senior Ashley Kelly led ASU with a 10th-place finish in the all-around (39.2). Included in Kelly's finishes was a tie for second place on bars with a score of 9.9. By virtue of the second-place finish Kelly is a first-team All-American on bars and she will compete in the bars event finals on Saturday night.
Also earning (second-team) All-America honors was freshman Nicole Harris, who scored a 9.85 on balance beam and finished tied for fifth place.
After having a bye in the first rotation, the Sun Devils began their night of competition on the floor exercise where they scored a 48.95. ASU hit all six of its floor routines led by freshman Ashlee Hinkle and junior Cassandra Jusino, who both scored a 9.825. Kelly added a 9.8 and junior April Boone a 9.775 while freshmen Ashley Toner and Harris both scored a 9.725.
Halfway through the meet ASU stood in fourth place after scoring a 48.85 on vault. The Sun Devils once again hit all six of their routines led by senior Lauren Powell and Boone who both scored a 9.8. Coming through with a 9.775 was Hinkle followed by Jusino, who scored a 9.75 and Harris and Kelly who both scored a 9.725.
After their second and final bye of the competition, the Sun Devils hit all six of their routines on bars and scored a 49.05. Pacing the Sun Devils was Kelly who scored a 9.9. Also scoring a 9.8 or higher for ASU were Boone (9.825) and Harris (9.8). Also contributing to ASU's overall bars score were Jusino (9.775) and freshman Tiana Jean (9.725).
ASU ended its evening on beam where it scored a 48.725. Harris' 9.85 led ASU in the event. Other scores on beam for ASU included a 9.775 by Kelly, a 9.725 by Hinkle, a 9.7 by Boone and 9.675 by both Powell and freshman Tia Orlando.