March 1, 2003

Complete Results

The Illinois women's gymnastics team finished third in a four team field at the University of Denver on Saturday. The Illini finished with a score of 192.700, which came in behind No. 13 Denver's 196.300 and Western Michigan's 193.300, but was good enough to top the Air Force's 189.825. Illinois finished second on the floor exercise with a score of 48.975, and also came in second on the uneven bars with a total of 47.525.

Ashley Williams had her third good meet in a row; she placed second in the all-around with a score of 39.125. The sophomore carded scores of 9.700 on vault (t-9th place), 9.825 on bars (3rd place), 9.775 on beam (8th place) and 9.825 on floor (6th place). Jessica Cole and Kara Kapernekas also competed in the all-around for the Illini. Cole finished fifth with at total of 38.750, while Kapernekas was sixth with a 38.550. Denver's Michelle Kasuga bested the field of 10 all-around competitors with a school record score of 39.725.

Kapernekas equaled Williams for the team's highest event finish by placing third on the balance beam with a 9.875. Kapernekas also took fourth on the floor exercise with a 9.850 and tied for ninth on bars with a 9.650. Cole was the Illini's top finisher on vault with a career-best-tying 9.775 to take fifth place. Senior Amanda Kaufman's vault of 9.700 tied Williams for ninth place. On bars, Karen Hawley tied her season high with s 9.775 to finish tied for sixth. Champaign native Sara Dumich scored a 9.800 on the floor exercise to tie for ninth place.

The Illini return home this Saturday, March 8, when they will host the 17th ranked Iowa Hawkeyes at Huff Hall. Start time is set for 2 p.m.