February 29, 2000

DeKalb, Ill. - All the pieces came together for the UIC women's gymnastics teams as the Flames shattered their previous season-high point total Tuesday evening in a resounding 195.32 - 186.375 win at Northern Illinois.

Senior Gabriella Brunn one events outright and tied for first in two others as UIC easily turned in its top performance of the season. Brunn took a solo first place finish on the vault with a 9.800. She tied teammate Tara Rhoden for first on the vault with a 9.800. She also finished in a tie for first with fellow-Flames Sara on the floor exercise with a 9.850. Brunn topped her previous season-best on beam while both she and Casica matched season-highs on the floor exercise. Rhoden's 9.800 on the vault was her season-high on that event.

Kim Ball, just three days removed from tying the school record on the balance beam, continued to shine for the Flames. She tied her career best on the uneven parallel bars, winning that event with a 9.900. Ball also finished second on the balance beam, finishing just behind Brunn with a 9.850.

Casica gave an outstanding performance on the all-around with a career-high score of 38.975. In addition to her first-place tie on floor, she placed fourth on vault (9.575), third on bars (a career-best 9.800) and fourth on beam (9.750)

The Flames were strong on every event, coming within .050 of the school record on beam. UIC's total team score is the team's highest since the Flames set the school record with a 195.700 against Ball State on March 8, 1999. UIC's previous season-high was a 193.375, set just three days earlier against SE Missouri State.

The Flames' hot streak couldn't be timed any better. With NCAA's looming on the horizon, UIC faces perhaps its most difficult test of the year Sunday when the Flames travel to Los Angeles to face No. 2 Michigan, No. 4 UCLA and unranked UC-Santa Barbara. That meet is scheduled to begin at 2:00 p.m., PST.

Results
Tuesday, February 29
At Northern Illinois (DeKalb, Ill.)

	Vault	Bars	Beam	Floor	Total
UIC	48.450	48.925	48.900	48.900	195.300
NIU	46.925	45.725	46.575	47.150	186.375

Vault
t1. Gabriella Brunn (UIC)	9.800
t1. Tara Rhoden (UIC)	        9.800
3.  Amy August (UIC)    	9.775
4.  Sara Casica (UIC)   	9.575
t5. Cheryl Rubinger (UIC)	9.500
t5. Reyna Gilbert (NIU)  	9.500
t5. Laura Hale (NIU)    	9.500
8.  Rose Marafioti (NIU)	9.450
t9. Jaclyn Messerges (UIC)	9.325
t9. Amber Jacoby (NIU)  	9.325
11. Brigid Kavanagh (NIU)	9.150
12. Kristie Woodin (NIU)	9.000

Uneven Parallel Bars
1.  Kim Ball (UIC)      	9.900
2.  Jacyln Messerges (UIC)	9.850
3.  Sara Casica (UIC)   	9.800
4.  Cheryl Rubinger (UIC)	9.725
t5. Chrissy Johnston (UIC)	9.650
t5. Tanya Joseph (NIU)   	9.650
7.  Anna Gardina (NIU)  	9.450
8.  Tara Rhoden (UIC)   	9.175
9.  Reyna Gilbert (NIU) 	9.150
10. Rose Marafioti (NIU)	8.750
11. Laura Hale (NIU)    	8.725

Balance Beam
1.  Gabriella Brunn (UIC)	9.900
2.  Kim Ball (UIC)      	9.850
3.  Cheryl Rubinger (UIC)	9.800
t4. Sara Casica (UIC)   	9.750
t4. Kimberly Sommer (UIC)	9.750
6.  Reyna Gilbert (NIU)  	9.700
7.  Kristie Woodin (NIU)	9.500
8.  Laura Hale (NIU)    	9.250
9.  Tina Gregori (UIC)  	9.125
10. Tanya Joseph (NIU)  	9.075
11. Rosa Marafioti (NIU)	9.050
12. Amber Jacoby (NIU)  	8.950

Floor Exercise
t1. Gabriella Brunn (UIC)	9.850
t1. Sara Casica (UIC)   	9.850
t3. Chrissy Johnston (UIC)	9.775
t3. Reyna Gilbert (NIU) 	9.775
5.  Laura Jungels (UIC)  	9.750
t6. Kim Ball (UIC)      	9.675
t6. Nadia Ori (UIC)     	9.675
8.  Tanya Joseph (NIU)  	9.575
9.  Kristie Woodin (NIU)	9.450
10. Rose Marafioti (NIU)	9.425
11. Laura Hale (NIU)    	8.925

All-Around
1.  Sara Casica (UIC)	        38.975
2.  Reyna Gilbert (NIU)  	38.125
3.  Rose Marafioti (NIU)	36.675
4.  Laura Hale (NIU)    	36.400