March 8, 2004

LOGAN, Utah -

Freshman Gretchen Goerlitz scored a 9.950 on the floor to give the Utah State gymnastics team a 195.925 to 195.700 victory over Cal State Fullerton Monday night. Fullerton had a .025 advantage over USU going into Goerlitz's routine.

"I plugged my ears when they announced the score because I knew it was close and that it would come down to me," Goerlitz said. "I was upset after my beam routine and really wanted to make up for it on floor.

The Aggies needed a 9.725 or better in order to drop their lowest score and take the lead. Goerlitz's 9.950 is a career-high and matches the second-best all-time floor score at USU.

"I knew it was close and that we needed a great performance from Gretchen to come out on top," said USU head coach Ray Corn. "I hand it to our last three floor performances for picking it up after a few low scores early in our floor competition."

USU recorded a season-best 48.925 on vault to start off the meet. Goerlitz set a career-high 9.900 on the vault as well. Her 9.900 on the vault is the best vault performance by any USU gymnast so far this season. Stacy Stewart recorded a career-best on the beam with a 9.900, which ties for the best beam performance by a USU gymnast this season.

The Aggies return to action Friday, March 12, at 7 p.m. against #14 Brigham Young at the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum. USU will close its regular season against Denver on Monday, March 15, at 7 p.m.

UTAH STATE: 195.925 CS Fullerton: 195.700

VAULT: UTAH STATE: 48.925 CS Fullerton: 48.750 Winner: Gretchen Goerlitz 9.900

1. Gretchen Goerlitz USU: 9.900 2. Rachael Mandy USU: 9.825 2. Rachel Ropelato USU: 9.825 4. Kristy Parker CSF: 9.800 5. Ashley Hegner CSF: 9.775

BARS: UTAH STATE: 48.800 CS Fullerton: 48.650 Winner: Alex Martin 9.900

1. Alex Martin USU: 9.900 2. Ashley Barr USU: 9.850 2. Erica Ficarotta CSF: 9.850 4. Stacy Stewart USU: 9.800 5. Jaime Howe CSF: 9.750

BEAM: UTAH STATE: 48.875 CS Fullerton: 49.275 Winner: Erica Ficarotta 9.925

1. Erica Ficarotta CSF: 9.925 2. Stacy Stewart USU: 9.900 3. Brittany Evans CSF: 9.875 4. Liesel Kohler USU: 9.825 4. Alex Martin USU: 9.825

FLOOR: UTAH STATE: 49.325 CS Fullerton: 49.025 Winner: Gretchen Goerlitz 9.950

1. Gretchen Goerlitz USU: 9.950 2. Liesel Kohler USU: 9.900 3. Alex Martin USU: 9.875 4. Ashley Barr USU: 9.850 5. Brittany Hoffman CSF: 9.825 Nicole Lim CSF: 9.825