Feb. 2, 2006

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. - (Thursday, February 02, 2006) Freshman Sandra Blake (Tri-Cities, Wash./Mid-Columbia) was named Midwest Independent Conference (MIC) Gymnast of the Week for her performance last week in a conference dual meet against Winona State. It is the first honor for both Blakeand the Redhawks gymnastics team this season.

Blake led the Redhawks (2-2, 0-1 MIC) to their first dual victory of the season as she won two individual titles and the all-around title against Winona State in the Redhawks 190.825-180.150 victory at Houck Field House.

She won her first vault title with a season-high 9.725 as she led the Redhawks to a season-high score of 48.000 on the vault. She followed that with a second place showing on the bars with a score of 9.750.

On the beam she finished third with a score of 9.625 before ending the evening with her second individual title as she won the floor exercises with a score of 9.600.

The topped-off her sensational night by claiming her second-straight all-around title with a season-high score of 38.700.

She currently ranks 24th in the South Central Region in both the bars and in the all-around with averages of 9.700 and 37.558 respectively.

Blake joins teammate Tara Boldt (Lakeville, Minn./ T.A.G.S) as the only two Redhawk gymnasts to win the weekly honor since it's inception. Boldt won it last season for the week of February 22, 2005.

The MIC is made up of five schools; Southeast Missouri State, Illinois State, Illinois-Chicago, Centenary and Texas Women's University, who's sports information directors vote on the weekly award.

Blake and the Redhawks return to the gym this weekend when they host 33rd-ranked Texas Woman's University on Saturday, February 4 at the Houck Field House. Start time for the dual meet is 2:00 p.m.