Huskers Close Season With a Win

The sixth-ranked Nebraska women's gymnastics team closed out the 2002 regular season with a 196.95-195.10 victory over Big 12 rival Iowa State on Sunday afternoon in front of a crowd of 924 at the Bob Devaney Sports Center. Nebraska, which trailed by 0.125 points heading into the final rotation, used a strong showing on floor to secure the win over the 10th-ranked Cyclones. The Huskers, who also defeated the Cyclones 196.025-195.70 in Ames on Jan.18, improve to 11-2 on the season and 3-0 in Big 12 action, while Iowa State falls to 8-6 (1-3).

Even though it was senior day, sophomore Libby Landgraf stole the spotlight early in the meet. For the second consecutive week, Landgraf earned a career high 9.925 on vault to share the title with ISU's Shelly Kringen. Landgraf, who hails from Fort Collins, Colo., was also strong on the uneven bars, tying her career high with a 9.875 to finish tied for fifth. Landgraf has earned a 9.875 on bars in four of the past six meets, including at the Hearts Invitational, where she claimed her first ever bars title.

Nebraska started off strong tallying a 49.10 on vault, the second-highest score of the season. Three Huskers received scores of 9.825 or higher, including sophomore Gina Bruce, who had missed the Huskers last two meets with an injury. Bruce finished tied for third with a season high 9.85.

Nebraska headed to bars trailing by 0.15, but a pair of Huskers tallied career bests to help NU take the lead, 98.475-98.15. Nebraska's bars score of 49.375 was its best of the season and also ranks fourth all-time at the Devaney Center. Junior Julie Houk captured her sixth bars title of the season with a 9.925, a score she shared with the Cyclones' Sissy Huey. It marked the 19th time in Houk's three-year career that she has scored at least a 9.90. Meanwhile junior A.J. Lamb rebounded from a fall on vault to score a personal-best 9.90, while junior Jess Wertz scored a 9.85.

Even with a little breathing room the Huskers struggled on the balance beam, scoring a 48.925, their second lowest score this season. Although the Huskers didn't have to count a fall, they did have one gymnast slip and another wobble on her leap series, which contributed to the low score. Even so, four Huskers scored at least a 9.80, including sophomore Tami Harris, who won her first beam title with a 9.875. Lamb and sophomore Richelle Simpson tied for second with scores of 9.85.

Entering the final rotation, Nebraska trailed ISU 147.575-147.45, thanks to a strong Cyclone performance on the floor exercise. Iowa State's score of 49.425 matched their season best, but the Huskers answered with a 49.50 of their own, a mark that ties for second in the NU record books behind only the 49.525 against Penn State last week. Lamb paced the Huskers with a career-best 9.95 to capture her fourth floor title, an honor she shared with ISU's Huey. Simpson and junior Jen French both scored 9.95s to tie for third. In the meantime, ISU struggled on the balance beam as three of their last four competitors fell, giving the Huskers a comfortable margin of victory.

Nebraska swept the all-around competition, behind Harris' 39.375. With her victory on the balance beam, Harris has now won every event this season. Simpson finished second (39.325), while Lamb took third (38.95).

The Huskers will use the next two weeks to prepare to for the Big 12 Championships on March 23 at 7 p.m.