March 12, 2010
PROVO, Utah - Balance beam woes for the Arizona State women's gymnastics team continue as the Sun Devils fell at a tri-meet at Brigham Young. Despite an all-around win from Mary Atkinson, the Sun Devils placed third with a score of 193.625. BYU won the event with 195.725 while Boise State scored 195.3. Atkinson won the all-around with a score of 39.3. Nickie Johnson placed third after tallying 38.7 in her first official all-around appearance. Despite the loss, the Sun Devils will still improve their Regional Qualifying Score.
ASU began the meet on the uneven bars. Four Sun Devils scored 9.8. Francesca Mercurio's nice lines and stuck dismount to earn her fourth score of 9.8 or higher this season. Atkinson had a small hop on her landing to earn a 9.8 while Kahoku Palafox tallied a 9.8 from both judges after a solid routine. Johnson also earned a 9.8 thanks to a stuck landing. Stephanie Hangartner struggled on her landing, earning a 9.575. The Sun Devils totaled 48.775 on bars. BYU scored 48.975 on vault while Boise State earned 48 on beam.
Beam continues to be the team's Achilles heel as they Sun Devils were forced to count four falls. With a large change in the lineup, ASU earned 46.85. Atkinson led the team as she continues to be solid, scoring a 9.775. Mercurio start value was lowered due to a pause in her leap series. Johnson had a solid routine going before she put her hand down to keep herself from falling on her front aerial and score a 9.325. Palafox fell on her series to score 9.175 while Kaitlynn Bormann could not stay on after onodi.
The Sun Devils recovered on the floor exercise. Atkinson continued to be rock solid in the event, scoring a 9.85 to win floor. Snowden, who has also been one of the team's top floorworkers, earned a 9.825. Johnson put up a score of 9.8. Brittany Schuett and Mercurio each tabbed 9.725 to put the Sun Devils at 48.925 on the event. The Sun Devils totaled 144.55 after three rotations while BYU scored a 147 and Boise State 146.
The evening concluded with their best vault rotation of the season, scoring a 49.075. Atkinson capped her solid evening with a 9.875 to tie for first on vault. Callie Price continued to be one of the team's top vault workers as she posted a 9.85. Amelia Rew tied her career-high of 9.8. Carly McMahon and Nickie Johnson each tallied scores of 9.775.
The Sun Devils will head to the Pac-10 Championships in Tucson in two weeks.