March 3, 2006
The No. 15 Arizona State women's gymnastics team posted its best road score of the season, defeating Pacific-10 Conference opponent California, 196.25-191.85, Friday at Haas Pavilion in Berkeley. ASU moves to 10-3 on the year and 4-2 in the Pac-10. ASU's all-time record versus California now stands at 44-3.
The Sun Devils swept the all around competition for the second consecutive meet. Senior All-American Ashley Kelly won her 19th career all-around title, scoring a season-best 39.65. Junior April Boone posted her second-best all-around, a 39.425, to finish second. Freshman Nicole Harris scored a 39.0 to take third.
The Sun Devils began the meet on the uneven parallel bars and posted a team score of 48.850. Kelly posted ASU's best bars score, a 9.9 to finish first. Nicole Harris' 9.8 was good for third. Cal's Joanna Bennett was second (9.825). The Golden Bears scored 48.625 on bars.
In the second rotation on vault, ASU swept the top three spots, led by Kelly's 9.95, her second-best vault score of the year. Boone was second (9.875) while Powell was third (9.825). ASU scored a 49.225 on vault, its second-best total of the season. Sun Devil freshman Ashlee Hinkle scored a career-best 9.775, which was good for seventh-place. California's best vaults were a pair of 9.8's by Britani Pittullo and Isabel Garcia, tying them for fourth. The Golden Bears scored a 48.325 on vault.
ASU's third event was the floor exercise where it shined with a season-best 49.15. Boone's 9.9 took first-place while Kelly was second (9.875). Harris scored 9.85 for third-place, her second-best floor routine of the campaign. Hinkle scored a 9.825, which was her second personal-best of the evening.
On beam, ASU was again led by Kelly's season-best tying 9.925 and Boone's career-high 9.875. It was Kelly's third event win of the evening. Powell's 9.75 on the event was a season-best. Hinkle posted another fine score, a 9.8 for third, which tied the second-best beam of her career. ASU's 49.025 on beam was its third-best team score of the year and best on the road. Cal scored 46.5.
The Sun Devils play host to Iowa State Friday March 10 at 7:30 p.m. in the final home meet of the season. It will be Senior Night at Wells Fargo Arena, honoring Ashley Kelly and Lauren Powell.