No. 8 Arkansas tops No. 20 Arizona

FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas’ eighth-ranked gymnastics team was dominant on three of four events and opened the 2010 season on Saturday in Barnhill Arena with a 195.400-192.650 victory over No. 20 Arizona.

Arkansas won the bars, beam and floor events to gradually pull away.

Razorback seniors Amy DeFilippo, Sarah Nagashima and Casey Jo Magee, and sophomore Jaime Pisani won individual event titles.

DeFilippo won the individual bars title with a 9.900 as Arkansas won the event 49.20-48.025.

Magee and Pisani, a pair of All-Americans last year, tied for the floor title with a 9.850 as the Razorbacks won the event 48.925-48.050.

On beam, Nagashima, also an All-American a year ago, won the beam title with a 9.850 as Arkansas won the event 48.900-48.075.

Pisani won the all-around title with a 39.125, tying for first on floor and tying for second on bars.

“The first meet is always interesting to see how the team will respond,” co-head coach Mark Cook said. “We were a little nervous. We had a freshman who had an issue on vault, but on bars, we rocked. We were awesome.”

In addition to DeFilippo’s 9.900 on bars, three other Razorbacks recorded a 9.8 or better. Pisani and Magee each had a 9.850, and Mariah Howdeshell a 9.825.

“Jaime Pisani was awesome, and we had two seniors, Sarah Nagashima and Casey Jo Magee, who also really stood out. Mariah Howdeshell also did a really good job.”

Arizona won beam, 48.500-48.475 with Deanna Graham claiming the individual title.

Arkansas’ scorers on vault were Magee with a 9.775, freshman Amy Borsellino with a 9.750, Nagashima with a 9.675, Pisani a 9.650 and freshman Kelci Lewis a 9.625.

On beam, in addition to Nagashima’s 9.850, DeFilippo had a 9.825, Pisani a 9.775, junior Stacy Bartlett a 9.750 and Howdeshell a 9.700.

On floor, joining Magee and Pisani were Nagashima at 9.775, and Bartlett and Lewis at 9.725.

Arkansas travels the next two weeks, going to No. 4 Florida on Friday.

Despite the frigid weather in Northwest Arkansas, the paid attendance for the meet was 1,812 with an actual attendance of 1,595.

“We really appreciate the fans coming out,” Cook said. “We know it’s tough to get out in these conditions, but we have great fans and look forward to being back home in a few weeks.”

The Razorbacks are back in Barnhill Arena on Jan. 29 against Kentucky.

No. 8 ArkansasNo. 20 ArizonaSaturday, Jan. 9, 2010Fayetteville, Ark. = Barnhill Arena

ROTATION 1Arkansas: Vault: Sarah Nagashima 9.675, Kelci Lewis 9.625, Jaime Pisani 9.650, Casey Jo Magee 9.775, Amy Borsellino 9.750

Arizona: Bars: Deanna Graham 9.675, Molly Quirk 9.650, Aubree Cristello 9.025, Britnie Jones 9.775, Miranda Russell 9.150, Sarah Tomczyk 9.775

ROTATION 2Arkansas: Bars:Sarah Nagashima 9.775, Jaime Pisani 9.850, Mariah Howdeshell 9.825, Amy DeFilippo 9.900,Casey Jo Magee 9.850, Kelci Lewis 9.650

Arizona: Vault:Molly Quirk 9.650, Aubree Cristello 9.700, Talyn Curry 9.625, Colleen Fisher 9.700, Sarah Tomczyk 8.450,Deanna Graham 9.675

ROTATION 3Arkansas: Beam:Jaime Pisani 9.775, Stacy Bartlett 9.750, Sarah Nagashima 9.850, Amy DeFilippo 9.825,Mariah Howdeshell 9.650, Casey Jo Magee 9.325

Arizona: Floor:Molly Quirk 8.975, Talyn Curry 9.675, Aubree Cristello 9.800, Deanna Graham 9.800, Sarah Tomczyk 9.800

ROTATION 4Arkansas: Floor:Sarah Nagashima 9.775, Stacy Bartlett 9.725, Amanda Siebert 9.650, Casey Jo MageeKelci Lewis 9.725, Jaime Pisani 9.850

Arizona: Beam:Aubree Cristello 9.700, Deanna Graham 9.250, Sarah Tomczyk 9.775, Molly Quirk 9.500, Britnie Jones 9.850, Exh. – Colleen Fisher

Download: NCAA Gymnastics Score Sheet, ark vs ariz.pdf