March 29, 2003

Shreveport, Louisiana - A few weeks ago, the possibility of the UIC women's gymnastics advancing to the NCAA Regional level was in the hands of other teams in the region.

Oh, how the Flames have changed that fate taking control of their own destiny, as they rolled to their third-straight 196 and the Midwest Independent Conference Championship on Saturday at Centenary.

UIC scored at least 49 team points out of a possible 50 on every event for the first place total and MIC record of 196.575. The Flames were led by Alyson Cacciatore to capture the team title for the second consecutive year.

Cacciatore took first place on the uneven bars with a school record tying score of 9.950 and tied for the top spot on the vault with a 9.900. In addition, she finished in third place in the all-around with a combined individual score of 39.150.

Equaling Cacciatore on vault was Atlim Mitchell, who also score a 9.9.

Jackie Jaworowicz also added a win, as she tied Ashley Godwin of SEMO for first on floor with a score of 9.9.

In the last three competitions, UIC has scores consecutive scores of 196.350, 196.800 and 196.575.

An NCAA Regional berth is now nearly a formality and the Flames will learn their fate in the week ahead.