Women's gymnastics team defeats Cal


The Arizona State women's gymnastics team picked up a Pac-10 win this weekend against California. The Sun Devils defeated the Golden Bears 192.825-191.800. Mary Atkinson placed second in the all-around with a career-best 38.775.

After a strong bar performance at the Lady Luck Invite, the Sun Devils struggled on the apparatus in Berkeley. Atkinson won the event with a solid 9.775. Sophomore Kahoku Palaox placed third, scoring 9.675 while Francesca Mercurio and Nickie Johnson tied for fourth after tallying 9.625. The Sun Devils also counted Kaitlyn Bormann's score of 9.2, bringing their event total to 47.9.

On vault, the team combined for 48.3. Atkinson again was the individual event winner with a score of 9.825. Sophomore Callie Price put up a mark of 9.75. Freshman Johnson earned a career-high 9.6 while Bormann scored 9.575. Amanda Davies earned a 9.55.

The Sun Devils struggled on beam, having to count a 9.075 and a 9.3. Bormann won the event, earning 9.825. Freshman Christina Salavec set a new career-high with a 9.775 while Stephanie Hangartner also surpassed her previous personal best by scoring 9.7. The Sun Devils also counted Atkinson's 9.3 and Mercurio's 9.075 to earn a total of 47.675 on beam.

Floor was a huge improvement for the Gym Devils, as the team did not have a single fall. With a new career-high, Atkinson won her third event of the night, scoring 9.875 in the process. Johnson performed her way to a career-best 9.825 while Brittany Schuett earned a solid 9.8. Hangartner scored 9.75 for her best routine of the season and Salavec tallied 9.7 on the event. The Sun Devils score 48.95 on floor.

The team hosts Arizona Jan. 24 for the Duel in the Desert. The meet begins at 2 p.m. at Wells Fargo Arena.