Jan. 9, 2010
ATHENS, Ga. -
The Stanford women’s gymnastics team finished one-tenth of a point from top-ranked Georgia during a 195.150-195.050 dual-meet loss before a sellout crowd of 10,224 at Stegeman Coliseum on Saturday.
Senior captain Carly Janiga won the all-around competition for Stanford’s only victory, but freshman Ashley Morgan may have provided the Cardinal’s biggest highlight with her sterling collegiate debut.
Morgan, of Danville, Calif., and the daughter of Baseball Hall of Famer Joe Morgan, scored 9.875 on the vault for Stanford’s highest individual score of the day. She also led the Cardinal with a 9.80 on the balance beam, and scored 9.825 in the floor exercise. Competing in three events, Morgan had the highest scoring average of the meet (9.83), among those who competed in more than one event.
“Ashley was lights out,” Smyth said. “She really did a good job.” Janiga earned a combined score of 39.300, scoring in the 9.8’s in all four events, topped by her 9.850 on floor. She is a two-time All-America in the all-around and the defending Pac-10 champion.
No. 7 Stanford never led, but was within 97.975-97.750 midway through the meet after a strong score of 49.125 on vault, with the Cardinal scoring 9.8’s across the board. However, the Cardinal would struggle on the balance beam in its final rotation, giving five-time defending national champion Georgia enough cushion to earn the victory and extend its home dual-meet winning streak to 29.
“Overall, this was a really great starting place for us,” Stanford coach Kristen Smyth said. “We couldn’t have asked for a better atmosphere. It was a great meet. But we have a young team that is going to need some opportunities to grow together. With a couple more meets under our belt, we’ll be able to get into a rhythm.”
Stanford, which has eight top-10 NCAA finishes in the past 11 years, opens its home season next Sunday, Jan. 17, against No. 20 Arizona, at Burnham Pavilion at 2 p.m.
SCORING
Team Results
1. Georgia - (VT- 49.125; UB- 48.850; BB- 48.950; FX- 48.225; FINAL- 195.150)
2. Stanford - (VT- 49.125; UB- 48.725; BB- 48.275; FX- 48.925; FINAL- 195.050)
Individual Results (Winners and Stanford scores)
Vault: Marcia Newby (G) 9.90. Stanford: Ashley Morgan 9.875, Carly Janiga 9.825, Blair Ryland 9.825, Shelley Alexander 9.80, Danielle Ikoma 9.80, Allyse Ishino 9.80.
Bars: Gina Nuccio (G), Kat Ding (G), both 9.850. Stanford: Allyse Ishino 9.825, Carly Janiga 9.825, Nicole Pechanec 9.725, Alyssa Brown 9.70, Danielle Ikoma 9.525.
Beam: Grace Taylor (G) 9.90. Stanford: Ashley Morgan 9.85, Carly Janiga 9.80, Allyse Ishino 9.675, Shelley Alexander 9.525, Nicole Pechanec 9.425, Danielle Ikoma 9.30.
Floor: Courtney McCool (G) 9.925. Stanford: Carly Janiga 9.85, Ashley Morgan 9.825, Nicole Pechanec 9.825, Shelley Alexander 9.725, Blair Ryland 9.70, Tenaya West 9.625.
All-around: Carly Janiga (S) 39.30. Stanford: Shelley Alexander 38.7.