Feb. 2, 2002

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Defending national championOhio State claimed first place in all four categories en route to an 88-78 victory over UAB Saturday evening at Bell Aquatics Center.

The Ohio State team of Victoria Bowen, Mary Hofer, Suzanna Hyatt, Beth Kreimer, Kim Lester, Lauren Marsh, Isabela Moraes and Kristen Price claimed first place in the team competition, with a score of 93.833. The UAB team of Jessica Brown, Kelli Dickerson, Jennifer Holmquist, Amanda Haeuser, Stacey Jackson, Stephanie Jackson, Stacy Leiker and Bogdana Zareva placed second at 92.666, followed by the UAB team of Luna Aguilu, Hannah Freer, Kristen Kramer, Erica Levine, Kara Morgan, Moraine Ruddick and Sarah Pikal at 88.750.

UAB's top performance of the evening came in the trio competition, where the Blazer team of Brown, Haeuser and Zareva claimed second place with a score of 88.500, finishing behind Ohio State's Hofer, Moraes and Moraes (93.667) but ahead of the Buckeyes' Hyatt, Kreimer and Price (87.500).

The term "duet" took on an added dimension as Ohio State won both first and second place in the duet competition, as twins Isabela and Carolina Moraes took first place with a score of 94.666, followed by Bowen and Lindsay Newbill (89.833) and UAB twins Stacey and Stephanie Jackson (88.000).

Ohio State's Hofer won the solo competition with a score of 94.333 and UAB's Zareva placed second with a score of 91.667.

Overall, UAB Head Coach Amy O'Donnell was pleased with her team's effort and performance against the perennial national champion Buckeyes.

"This was a very solid performance against a great program," said O'Donnell following the meet.

"We've made a lot of progress as a team, and we were very excited not only to come closer to Ohio State in the score than we did last year, but also to see one of our trios do so well."

UAB will return to action next weekend in a meet at Incarnate Word College in San Antonio, Texas.