Jan. 19, 2007
Stanford, Ca - "Amazing, Outstanding," were just two of the many adjectives that Stanford head women's gymnastics coach Kristen Smyth used to describe a very impressive victory for the eighth-ranked Cardinal in their home Pac-10 opener before a capacity crowd of more more than 1,247 enthusiastic fans at Burnham Pavilion on Friday night.
For the second straight meet, Stanford hit 24 of its 24 routines to record a season-best 197.125 - 193.075 resounding victory over the Sun Devils, who were ranked eleventh in the nation.
"I am so proud of the team's performance," said Smyth. "Everybody contributed to this great team win. We hit every routine, and hit four of five routines in the exhibitions. It was impressive to witness all 13 members of the team look so awesome so early in the season."
Just last Monday, Stanford recorded the second highest national scoring total of the season in a 196.975 - 195.525 victory over the fifth-ranked Bruins at Pauley Pavilion. Stanford didn't rest on its laurels. On Friday night, Stanford looked in championship mid-season form with team victories in all four events (Bars, Beam, Floor Exercise, Vault).
Liz Tricase, a junior who is one of the nation's top competitors on Bars, tied her school record with a perfect 10.000, not once but twice. Junior Tabitha Yim was close behind in second place with a season-best 9.950. In fact, Stanford took the Top 5 spots on Bars to record a season-best team total of 49.575.
Tricase didn't stop with just one victory on the evening. Tricase started the four-event program with a first place victory on Vault (9.925, season-best).
"Another spectacular performance by Liz," remarked Smyth. "Liz just simply lights up the arena."
Yim and Kelly Fee finished 1-2 on Beam. Yim, the 2006 Pac-10 champion, tallied a point total of 9.925 while Fee checked in at 9.875.
Stanford finished the evening on Floor Exercise, and again another Cardinal athlete stood tall on the victory stand. Freshman Carly Janiga led a 1-2-3 finish for Stanford with a score of 9.925, the same score she produced earlier in the week at UCLA.
Of special note was the performance of junior Alex Pintchouk, who tied her career-best with an 9.850 on Floor Exercise, a 9.825 on Beam which was just short of her career-best of 9.850 set last year, and 9.775 total on Vault.
"Alex has shown tremendous growth since her freshman season," said Smyth. "I'm so proud of her work and her performance tonight."
Stanford hits the road again next Friday night (1/26/07) at the University of Washington.
Final Team Results
Team Score - Stanford 197.125, Arizona State 193.075
Vault - Stanford 49.150, Arizona State 48.525
Bars - Stanford 49.575, Arizona State 48.150
Beam - Stanford 49.125, Arizona State 47.600
Floor Exercise - Stanford 49.275, Arizona State 48.800
Final Individual Results
All-Around - 1. Carly Janiga (S) 39.475; 2. Tabitha Yim (S) 39.425; 3. Lauren Powell (ASU) 39.050)
Bars - 1. Liz Tricase (S) 10.000; 2. Tabitha Yim (S) 9.950; 3. Carly Janiga (S) 9.900; 4. Nicole Ourada (S) 9.875; 5. Kelly Fee (S) 9.850; 7. Heather Purnell (S) 9.800; 10. Blair Ryland (S) 9.675
Beam - 1. Tabitha Yim (S) 9.925; 2. Kelly Fee (S) 9.875; 3. April Boone (ASU) 9.850; 4. Carly Janiga (S) 9.825; 4. Alex Pintchouk (S) 9.825; 6. Aimee Precourt (S) 9.800; 9. Heather Purnell (S) 9.700; 9. Lauren Elmore (S) 9.700
Floor Exercise - 1. Carly Janiga (S) 9.925; 2. Kelly Fee (S) 9.875; 3. Nicole Ourada (S) 9.850; 3. Alex Pintchouk (S) 9.850; 3. Aprl Boone (S) 9.850; 6. Heather Purnell (S) 9.775; 10. Tabitha Yim (S) 9.700; 10. Blair Ryland (S) 9.700
Vault - 1. Liz Tricase (S) 9.925; 2. Tabitha Yim (S) 9.850; 3. Cassandra Jusino (ASU) 9.850; 4. Carly Janiga (S) 9.825; 5. Nicole Ourada (S) 9.775; 5. Alex Pintchouk (S) 9.775; 7. Stephanie Gentry (S) 9.750; 12. Stephanie Carter (S) 9.550