TEMPE, Ariz. – The SUU gymnastics team led by a half-point going into the final event but struggles on beam doomed SUU as they had to count a fall.
The Thunderbirds started the meet on bars with Tyly Bozzuto and she kicked things off strong with a 9.8. Rochelle Bernier followed her with a solid 9.7 and Ramirez bested Bernier with a 9.75. The star on bars was Jamie Armijo, who picked up a 9.9 to start her season.
Arizona State struggled on vault, scoring just a 47.975 with Natasha Sundby and Taylor Allex pulling in 9.8's for the Sun Devils.
Brittney Jensen started the event for SUU on vault with a score of 9.725, followed by Bernier who scored a 9.675. Virginia Brownsell and Ramirez were next for SUU, scoring a 9.75 and 9.825. Stacie Webb and Bozzuto finished off the event with scores of 9.675 and 9.775 to give SUU a two event score of 97.600.
The Sun Devils fought back hard on bars, scoring a 49.050, bring them back to within .600 after two events at 97.025.
SUU proceeded to floor where Natalie Trejo was a little shaky to start things off, but still managed a 9.55. Tyly Bozzuto followed that up with a 9.625 and Jaworski added a 9.675 to the mix. Madyson Blake had to record a fall on her routine, scoring a 9.050 but Jensen came to the rescue with a 9.7. Brownsell capped the event with a 9.7, tying Jensen for the team high on floor.
ASU won the third event by just .025 but the Thunderbirds still had more than a half-point lead heading into the final event. The Sun Devils' Stephanie Miceli led the way on beam with a 9.8.
SUU started off beam by counting a fall from Bozzuto, but Jaworski was there to right the ship with a 9.675. Ramirez followed her with a great routine and a 9.775 score. Trejo backed Ramirez's score up with a 9.675 before Armijo counted a fall, ensuring SUU would have to count one fall in their final score. Bernier finished the event strong for the Thunderbirds with a 9.75.
ASU finished the meet very strong on floor. Taylor Allex scored a 9.875 on the event and Sundby added a 9.9 to give the Sun Devils a 48.9 score. This would be enough to pass the Thunderbirds overall and take the win, 194.200 to SUU's 193.925.
Ramirez took the vault event champion award and Armijo was the event champion on bars. Bozzuto finished second in the all-around with a score of 38.4.
