Jan. 20, 2007

Complete Results

DENVER - Four gymnasts set or tied personal bests scores on uneven bars - including a 9.975 from sophomore Jessica Lopez (Caracas, Venezuela) - helping the 17th-ranked University of Denver gymnastics team the fifth-best bars score in school history and a 196.425 - 189.775 victory over New Hampshire Saturday night in front of 1,115 fans in Hamilton Gymnasium. The win improves DU's record to 3-4 on the season.

Lopez led a Pioneer contingent that scored a 49.300 on uneven bars, tied for the fifth-best score on that event in school history and DU's highest in nearly three seasons. Lopez, who entered the meet tied for No. 1 in the nation on bars, posted a 9.975 for her third bars win this season. DU gymnasts took each of the top six spots, as junior Courtney Butler (Naperville, Ill.) tied her best score with a 9.9 to finish second and sophomore Nikki Brown (Louisville, Ky.) also equaled her career-high with a 9.875 to finish third. Senior Heather Huffaker (DeSoto, Texas) finished fourth with a 9.825 and freshman Ellen McCarthy (Toronto, Ontario) posted a career-high for her in finishing fifth with a 9.775.

The Pioneers also posted a season-high score on vault, as DU didn't have a score under 9.7 in scoring a 49.100. Butler and Huffaker tied for the top spot as both posted scores of 9.875, just edging out senior Casey Dobyns (Woodinville, Wash.), who finished third wat 9.85. Freshman Kelley Hennigan (The Woodlands, Texas) finished fourth with a career-best 9.8.

On balance beam, DU had its strongest performance of the season, posting a 48.900 and taking four of the top five finishes. Brown led the way with a 9.9 for her second beam win in as many weeks, and McCarthy finished tied second with a career-high 9.8. Hennigan matched her career-best score with a 9.8 to finish fourth.

The Pioneers had another stellar performance on floor exercise, posting a season-high 49.075 and taking each of the top six spots. Junior Sasha Sullivan (Glen Allen, Va.) won her second floor title of the season with a 9.9, just edging out Huffaker and Lopez, who tied for second at 9.875. McCarthy finished fourth with a career-high 9.75 and Hennigan was fifth with a 9.675.

Sullivan captured the all-around as she matched her career-high score with a 39.100.

"I was very pleased with our performance tonight," head coach Melissa Kutcher-Rinehart said. "I still very much think we have room for improvement but I've been very pleased with our effort in the gym and our work ethic. We just need to keep it up."

DU is next in action next Friday, Jan. 26 when the Pioneers travel to take on Michigan at 5 p.m. in Ann Arbor, Mich.