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Perfect 10 not enough

The No. 25 Arizona gymnastics' team earned its highest team score of the season (195.675) in its loss to No. 3 Michigan (197.450) last Friday in McKale Center.

The Wildcats scored team season-highs on the vault (48.950) and the beam (49.0), but uncharacteristic falls on the bars cost Arizona the victory.

"Bars was a problem for us because we had some last minute line-up changes," head coach Bill Ryden said. "A couple of the girls struggled on the bars and we had to count two falls."

Individually for the Wildcats, sophomore Randi Liljenquist performed perfectly on the floor, earning her first collegiate 10 and giving her the title.

"I'm speechless," Liljenquist said. "I didn't think I could do that, but I did."

Liljenquist is only the second gymnast in school history to score a 10 on the floor event. The other flawless performance was given by senior All-American Heidi Hornbeek in 1996 at the NCAA Championships.

"You never expect the judges to give a perfect 10, but it's great," Ryden said. "She (Liljenquist) came back with a vengeance after the Utah meet and got the job done."

Liljenquist also took top honors on the beam (9.9) and won the all-around title with a career-high 39.525. She also had a career-high on the bars, tying teammate Hornbeek for second place with a 9.925.

Hornbeek took second place with a season-high 9.95 on the vault. She also recorded a season high on the beam and earned third place honors. In addition to taking third in the all-around with a score of 39.35.

In their last meet in McKale, the four seniors gave emotional performances and bid final farewells. Senior Kiernan Andrews scored a 9.675 on the floor.

"I was really excited to come out and have fun in my last home meet," Andrews said.

Gretchen Diaz scored a 9.7 on the vault and 9.05 on the beam in her final home outing with the Wildcats.

"I'm sad," Diaz said. "This has been the best four years of my life."

After missing the last two meets due to a concussion, Lisa Heckel returned to the bars and scored a 9.05.

"This was our last meet, and its very emotional for all of us," Heckel said.