Jan. 29, 2000
TEMPE, Ariz. - Season-low team scores on the floor exercise and balance beam translated into the first loss of the year for the #11 Arizona State women's gymnastics team, which fell to fifth-ranked UCLA 196.650-191.575 Friday night in Pauley Pavilion.
The Sun Devils (6-1) came into the meet ranked third nationally on the beam, but had to count a fall from senior Elizabeth McNabb as part of their 48.1 team mark. Freshman Margaret Wojciak, who also had an untimely fall on the beam, showed poise on the uneven bars by recording a career-best 9.825 to tie sophomore teammate Rhonda Robinette for fifth place. ASU sophomore Lea Carver had a solid meet, notching her team's highest individual performance by placing third on beam (9.825) and establishing a new career high in vault competition at 9.625. Junior All-American Kelly Christensen-Cowley led the Devils on both the floor and vault, scoring a 9.775 on each event, while fellow All-American McNabb posted a rare 9.675 in floor competition. The co-captain had registered a score of 9.9 or better on the floor in 18 of her last 27 meets.
UCLA (7-4) junior teammate Mohini Bhardwaj used victories on the beam and floor to set a new personal best in the all-around at 39.5, while senior teammate Heidi Moneymaker scored no lower than 9.8 on any event to tie Bhardwaj for first. Arizona State junior Becky Acker, the first Sun Devil to compete as an all-arounder in 2000, registered a career-high 37.825.
ASU will look to regroup for its first home meet in three weeks when Pac-10 foe Oregon State visits Wells Fargo Arena on Feb. 4 at 7:30 p.m.