Michigan State University
Illinois
MSU Gymnasts Win Spartan Invitational For Fourth Straight Year
2/22/2003 12:00:00 AM | Women's Gymnastics
Feb. 22, 2003
EAST LANSING, Mich. - The Michigan State gymnastics team captured the 2003 Country Markett Spartan Invitational for the fourth straight year, defeating Illinois, 194.900 - 193.600, Saturday in Jenison Field House. The victory, MSU's 10th in the 14 years of the Invitational, improved MSU's record to 8-5 this year.
MSU had a season-best score on the floor and matched a season-best in the uneven bars, and received a career-best all-around score of 39.350 from freshman Sarah Alexander (Kernersville, N.C.) to equal the fifth-best total team score in Spartan Invitational history, giving MSU five of the top six scores in Invitational history.
Alexander won the vault and beam, tied for first on the floor and tied for second on bars to win the all-around with the best score in Spartan Invitational history, while also equaling the sixth-best all-around total in MSU history. Sophomore Lauren Simpson (Fenton) also competed well in the all-around, placing third with a career-best score of 39.125.
MSU got off to a decent start, posting a score of 48.525 on the vault, matching its third-best score of the season in that event. Illinois, however, scored 48.975 on the bars to take the early lead. Alexander won the vault with a score of 9.750, sophomore Anna Hunsinger (Elizabethtown, Ky.) placed second with a score of 9.725, and Simpson and sophomore Nicole Anderson (Kenosha, Wis.) were both part of a three-way tie for third at 9.700.
The Spartans erased the deficit in the second rotation, scoring 49.125 on the uneven bars, which is tied for the ninth-best bars score in MSU history. Alexander and Simpson both scored 9.850 to tie for second, senior Julie Devaty (North Olmstead, Ohio) was fourth with a score of 9.825, while sophomores Kristen Merritt (Racine, Wis.) and Jennifer Yarbrough (Williamston) posted scores of 9.800. Illinois, meanwhile, scored 48.275 on the vault, giving MSU the lead, 97.650 - 97.250, at the midpoint of the meet.
MSU struggled on beam, scoring just 47.975 to fall behind Illinois, which posted a score of 49.000 on the floor to take a lead of 146.250 - 145.625 heading into the final rotation. Alexander again performed well, scoring 9.875 to win the beam, while Simpson's score of 9.775 was good for third.
On the floor, MSU scored 49.275, which matches the seventh-best team score in Spartan history, while Illinois was having troubles of its own on the beam, helping MSU earn the team title. Three Spartans - Alexander, Devaty and Hunsinger - posted scores of 9.875 to share top honors on the floor, while senior Diana Crea (Beaver Falls, Pa.) added a 9.850 to MSU's tally.
The Spartans are home again next weekend, as Central Michigan and Ball State visit East Lansing Saturday, March 1, at 7 p.m.
Players Mentioned
