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Buckley Leads No. 25 Illini to Season-High Score
Feb. 2, 2008
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - The No. 25 Fighting Illini women's gymnastics team posted season-highs on all four events en route to a season-high total of 194.975, but it wasn't enough to top No. 13 Denver (195.850) Saturday night in front of 1,407 pink-clad fans at Huff Hall. Freshman Allison Buckley led the Orange and Blue with individual titles on vault, uneven bars and floor exercise and junior Julie Crall took her third straight balance beam crown for the Illini. "We knew of Denver's talent level and our main objective was to try to compete with them," head coach Bob Starkell said. "Other than the major mistakes, I think we did that on all four events." The Illini started off strong on vault with a score of 49.000, which equals the fifth-best vault score in school history. Buckley took the individual title with a career-high score of 9.900. Senior Michelle McGrady took third with a season-high 9.850 and sophomore Nicole Cowart also excelled on vault, scoring a season-high 9.800 as the Illini held a slim lead of 0.075 after one rotation. After posting another season-high score on bars (48.925) the Illini maintained a narrow 97.925-97.800 lead over the Pioneers. Buckley again led the way with a career-high 9.825 on bars to tie DU's Jessica Lopez for first place. Senior Krystal Melcarek and sophomore Marijka Botteman tied for third place with season-high scores of 9.800, while Cowart (9.775) and freshman Lashlee Morris (9.725) also turned in solid bar performances. On beam (48.375), the Illini faltered for the first time on the night, counting a fall and dropping out of the lead, trailing 146.800-146.300 after the third rotation. In her anchor spot on beam, junior Julie Crall won the title with a career-high tying 9.900. Cowart also looked impressive on her routine, posting a 9.800, while freshman Melissa Fernandez garnered a season-best 9.775. The Illini once again saw improvement on floor tonight, scoring a season-best 48.675. Buckley tied the fifth best score in Illini history with a 9.925 to take the floor crown for the third straight week. Junior Lindsey Smith posted a career-best 9.825, while Fernandez had her best floor routine in her young career with a 9.750. Buckley finished third in the all-around competition with a 38.875, finishing behind Denver's Lopez (39.325) and Sasha Sullivan (39.150). Overall, Illini set or tied 11 career highs and 17 season highs on the night. "Allison (Buckley) was having some trouble on bars during the course of the week, but she had a great routine tonight," Starkell said. "She could have had a great score in the all-around if it wasn't for her fall on beam. On the skill that she fell on, I think she just kind of relaxed because she was relieved to get through the majority of her routine. However, she is going to have plenty of more chances. This is definitely not a one night deal." Illinois was without sophomore all-arounder Sarah Schmidt, who sprained her ankle in practice and could not compete tonight. However, junior Lindsey Smith (vault) and Lashlee Morris (bars, beam, floor) filled in nicely in Schmidt's absence. Tonight's "Pink Meet" featured several fun activities to help raise awareness about cancer. The Illini squad sported pink leotards, while the majority of the crowd flaunted pink attire. In addition, UI Associate Chancellor Barbara Hundley served as a guest speaker, while representatives from the American Cancer Society and Colleges Against Cancer were in attendance to help carry out the event. "It was a great event with a good turnout," Starkell said in reference to tonight's "Pink Meet". "We greatly appreciate the speakers who came and the people that sponsored the event with us. Hopefully, we can do something special like this each year." Illinois will head up to the Windy City this Friday, Feb. 8, to host the first "Chicago Style" collegiate invitational at Navy Pier. The meet is part of IGI "Chicago Style" Club Gymnastics Meet, which is one of the largest women's gymnastics invitationals in the world. The collegiate meet, which is new to the schedule this year and will feature the Fighting Illini along with No. 8 UCLA, No. 10 Stanford and Washington, will begin at 7 p.m. CT. - ILLINI -
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