NU Wins Hearts Invitational with Season-High Score

Raleigh, N.C. -- The Nebraska women's gymnastics team bettered 49.0 on all four events en route to a season-high score of 196.875 to win the 10th annual Hearts Invitational at North Carolina State Friday night. In front of a crowd of 3,228 at Reynolds Coliseum, the Huskers posted season-highs on vault and balance beam to win the quadrangular, marking the second title in as many attempts. The Huskers also won the event in 1995. Nebraska's total tied for the eighth-best score in school history and bettered runner-up Auburn (195.80) by more than a point. Host N.C. State finished third (194.475), while William & Mary took fourth (191.55).

The Huskers also swept the all-around taking the top three places. Sophomore Tami Harris won her first all-around title of the season with a career-high score of 39.50, a mark that ties for 11th all-time. The Virginia Beach, Va., native won the vault (9.875) and floor titles (9.90) and also placed second on the balance beam with a career-high score of 9.90. Junior A.J. Lamb also had a career day, finishing in the top five on all four events and tying her career high all-around score with a 39.425, to finish second overall. The Lincoln Northeast graduate posted season-highs on vault (9.825) and bars (9.85) and scored a 9.875 on floor to finish third on all three events. Meanwhile, sophomore Richelle Simpson rounded out Nebraska's all-around trio, finishing third with a 39.25.

The Huskers started the evening on bars and despite competing without their top bars worker, they posted their second highest score of the season, as four gymnasts scored at least a 9.825. Nebraska's score of 49.15 was its highest since the 49.275 it scored against Missouri on Jan. 27, and came without junior Julie Houk. Houk, who has won four bars titles already this season, injured her left knee in warm-ups at Alabama and was held out of competition. Without Houk in the lineup, several Huskers stepped up to fill the void, including sophomore Libby Landgraf, who won the first event title of her career. Landgraf tied her career high with a 9.875, a mark she set in the Huskers' last meet at Alabama.

Nebraska seemed to gain momentum as the meet progressed, posting a season-high 49.225 on the balance beam. Three Huskers posted their highest marks of the season on the event, including junior Jen French, who scored a 9.85. After beam, NU headed to floor where five Huskers placed among the top four finishers, helping Nebraska post its best score (49.325) since the season opener.

Nebraska finished the night on a high note, posting a 49.175 on the vault, its highest score of the season. Lamb led off with a season-high 9.825 and freshman Carrie Gloudemans, who had never competed vault in competition, finished things off with a career-high 9.85 to tie for second. Gloudemans, a native of Neenah, Wis. also tied her career high on floor with a 9.85.

The Huskers will be in action on Feb. 23, when they host Arizona State, Ohio State and West Virginia in the Masters Classic at the Bob Devaney Sports Center at 8 p.m.