Jan. 25, 2013
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By Carrie Adams and Alissa Parten, Sun Devil Media Relations
TEMPE, Ariz.-- Led by a stellar set of underclassman, the Arizona State (2-2, 0-1 Pac-12) women's gymnastics team posted a season-best 195.600 in its annual PINK meet against No. 4 UCLA at Wells Fargo Arena in Tempe, Ariz. UCLA earned the win the dual meet, besting the Sun Devils with a score of 196.375.
The Gym Devils' potential on floor came to fruition, Friday, as ASU scored a season-high and meet-high team score of 49.150 in the event over the Bruins, who are ranked No.1 in the nation on floor. Four Sun Devils recorded scores of 9.800 or better with sophomore Natasha Sundby recording Arizona State's first 9.900 of the year in her anchor position on floor. Freshman Allie Salas bested her career high by nearly two tenths, recording a 9.850 to lead off the Sun Devils, while sophomore Brianna Gades matched her season high of 9.875. With her 9.900 on floor, Sundby won the overall floor title in meet besting the No. 1 and No. 2 ranked gymnasts in the nation on UCLA's squad.
Freshman Erin Hamister kicked off the underclassmen's success, besting her season-high vault score of 9.775 with 9.800 in the first rotation. The freshman's performance was the first of three consecutive 9.800 scores for Sun Devils on vault, with Sundby and freshman Carissa Kraus posting the other two.
Kraus continued the freshmen's career-setting marks as ASU moved on to bars, setting a new high bar score of 9.775 to lead the Sun Devils along with graduate student Kahoku Palafox in the evet.
Newcomers Risa Perez and Stephanie Miceli would both post 9.850 topping their previous season bests on beam and tying for second on the night overall in the event. Sophomore Brianna Gades added the third 9.800 score for the Devils.
Next week the Gym Devils head to Salt Lake City to face eighth-ranked Utah in another competitive Pac-12 match-up on Feb. 1.