It took nearly a month, but the ASU gymnastics team ended its drought and secured its first Pac-10 win in an injury-ridden season.
ASU coach John Spini aimed for a team score of 195 or better, and his team did just that Friday night, defeating California at Wells Fargo Arena.
"That's all I wanted," Spini said of the 195.55 points his team scored. "And we had to count a fall on beam. But having Josie [Hancock] come in on beam was big."
With the competition an afterthought, No. 22 ASU (3-3, 1-3 Pac-10) rebounded with its finest performance of the season, courtesy of Hancock, a freshman, and senior Lauren Powell.
Hancock (beam) and Powell (uneven bars) each competed in just one event after being sidelined last week, but their presence made the difference, scoring 9.775 and 9.875, respectively.
After Cal senior Miho Maeda was injured during warm-ups, the Golden Bears were forced to compete with just four gymnasts on floor instead of five, putting themselves in a 10-point hole. Cal finished with a team score of 181.45.
The Sun Devils posted their highest team score of the season since last month's Maui Invitational, which was also their last win.
Junior Ashley Kelly won the all-around for the 13th time in her career, sweeping all four individual events.
Sophomore Cassandra Jusino placed second. Senior Kari Muth finished third
But it wasn't about winning for ASU as much as it was about the team score.
After the meet, Spini said his team still wasn't performing to its potential.
"I told the girls I was really proud of them," Spini said. "We need to continue concentrating on landings. I thought they were non-aggressive on floor."
ASU has set itself up to peak at the right time, but Spini knows his gymnasts still have progress to make.
"We're going to need to be quicker and higher on dismounts," Spini said. "When we go to regionals and nationals, that is going to be the difference between the first and second team."
Reach the reporter at kimberly.a.taylor@asu.edu.
