TUCSON, Az. – Senior Elizabeth Price capped off a spectacular regular season by tying for first place in two events on Saturday at the Pac-12 Championships at the McKale Center.
She also became Stanford's first two-time Pac-12 Gymnast of the Year, previously winning in 2016.
Competing in Session #1 on Saturday afternoon against Oregon State, Arizona State and Arizona, Price claimed the uneven bars (9.975), floor exercise (9.950) and all-around (39.650), and tied for first in vault (9.900). Her bar and floor scores held up in Session #2 on Saturday night against UCLA, Utah, Cal and Washington. Price took third in all-around.
"Elizabeth has been phenomenal," head coach Tabitha Yim said. "She was a rock for us again today."
Price also won Pac-12 titles on bars in 2015 and 2016.
The Cardinal (196.350) finished seventh as a team behind UCLA (197.500), Utah (197.350), Cal (196.950), Washington (196.750), Oregon State (196.575) and Arizona State (196.425), with Arizona (195.825) earning eighth.
"I'm really proud of our team effort today," said Yim said. "We have been focusing on details in practice and were able to see progress in each of those areas today. It was a great way to start the postseason, and we are excited to continue working as we prepare for regionals."
On Monday, bids for the NCAA Regional Championships on April 7 will be announced.
Coming off a long week of final exams, the Cardinal got another inspired showing from Price in Session #1, as she topped all competitors in the uneven bars (9.975), floor exercise (9.950) and all-around (39.650), and tied for first in vault (9.900).
Two judges gave her 10's for her bar routine, and many in attendance felt that was the score she deserved.
"I'm really happy," said Price, who has recorded three perfect scores this season. "I did a couple of my best routines on floor and bars."
Ranked No. 3 in the country, Price has now captured 30 first place finishes in 11 meets this year, including seven all-around titles. She has tallied 9.900 or higher in 28 routines.
Stanford started on the balance beam and earned 48.975, losing ground to OSU and ASU. But Cardinal rebounded on floor with 49.225, receiving 9.875's from freshmen Rachael Flam and Kyla Bryant, and 9.950 from Price to tie the Sun Devils for second at 98.200.
Stanford hung tough on vault, scoring 49.075, as Price contributed 9.900, Flam 9.850 and Bryant 9.825. Through three rotations, OSU led with 147.425, followed by ASU (147.325) and Stanford (147.275).
The Cardinal closed on bars and registered 49.075. Price paved the way with a seemingly flawless routine, followed by Bryant (9.850) and Flam (9.800).
Flam matched season-highs on floor and bars.
"Overall, I'm really proud of our team," said Price. "We covered each other and are going in the right direction."
Cairo Leonard-Baker of ASU was selected Pac-12 Freshman/Newcomer of the Year, while Katelyn Ohashi of UCLA was named Pac-12 Specialist of the Year.
