Sommer Not Fazed by Bad Back on. r c X- - rVW-il-- n ir- -" JAMES EDWARD Chronicle Assistant Sports Editor STATE COLLEGE, Pa. - Maybe she was just faking it. Because not only did Traci Sommer compete despite her bad back, she was pretty awesome' ' :v:-The U. junior was instrumental in helping the No. 3 Utes knock off Pcnn State Saturday night, Tracf f a pretty intelligent kid and obviously I was willing to trust her judgment, or I would not have let her compete ," Utah coach Greg Marsdcn said. After missing last weekend's meet because of back spasms, Marsdcn would' ve preferred Sommer rested an additional week. However, with over 20 family members making the trek from her hometown of Chatham, NJ., to see her compete, only a s traitjacket could' vc kept her off the floor. "During warmups, I was kind of questioning competing, but I've been ; 194.850-193.87- 88 0 5) t ' Utah didn't hive to worry about counting another fall. She scored a 9.875 on floor and then closed the in that situation before and I knew i 5 once the meet started I would forget about it," Sommer said. It's probably a good thing Sommer was in the lineup, because she stopped a string of falls on bars that had the - makings of snowballing second loss of the season. meet out with a 9.90. ' Aside from Sommer, k was a pretty average evening for Utah, which can be partly attributed to injuries. Sarah Northrop didn't compete because of a strained tricep. Summer Reid only competed on beam because of bronchitis, and she still scored a 9.875. Perhaps the performance that was lost in the mix of Sommer's heroics was Molly Northrop's bars routine. Prior to Saturday night, she had yet to successfully execute her full twisting didn't hit hect But that changed-s- he her heel on the bar, at the same time avoiding the ground. Marsdcn was just thrilled no new injuries surfaced. into Utah's After Kellcy Delaney and Jenny Schmidt each fell off bars to open the meet, Sommer knew how important it was for her to stick to her routine. She stepped upextremely nervous, she admitted later-a- nd scored a 9.75. "I actually think that was a good wake-ucall; k made people kind of nervous and got their adrenaline pumping," Marsdcn said. "Because until then I was worried about their demeanor and their approach to the p competition." "I'm happy to be through this Sommer definitely got the Utes February thing," he said. "We've got one, more meet this February and if we can get through that and be healthy, we'll be in position to make some improvements for the rest of the season. back on track; they only had one fall the rest of the evening. That came on an uncharacteristic fall by Ashley Kever on her last tumbling pass on floor. But with Sommer following her, Payton Abuses Stockton Leading to Sonic Win BRANDON WINN j Chronicle Sports Writer Turkey BIX Melt ' Something just didn't sit right in Jazz fan's stomachs when they realized Gary Payton and the Seattle Supcrsonics were coming to town. For one, John Stockton would be matched up with Payton and for two, the Sonics have been playing their best basketball of the season lately. Jazz fans were right to worry. Chicken Cheesesteak an Cheese Mdt 'n Ham Bacon With little help from counter part Meat Loaf Monster d apeful ...thBg'PB loaded! Extreme Carver11' Combo W ONLY9 ladodcsyw Sean Kemp, Payton thwarted the Jazz plans of a season sweep of the Sonics. Payton's game winner came when he hit a jump shot from die baseline left in overtime, giving with only Seattle an 89-8- 7 victory. The Sonics and Jazz have developed quite a rivalry over the past couple seasons as a team, but the personal rivalries ' have been what's been played up by the 15-fo- J national media. The Stockton Payton and Karl Malonc-Kemmatchups have p N V"-- N. ASUU Presents been closely watched. Malone won his battle with Kemp, outscoring his rival 323. Kemp got into foul trouble early and never got anything going offensively. Kemp finished from the field shooting only against Malone 's tough defense. Malone was the only Jazz player that looked comfortable on offense. The Jazz only shot 42 percent for the game and only hit 2-- 14 from three-poin- t range. The difference came in the Stockton-Payto- n An Evening with Nancy Hanson Stockton 28-- able to get to die basket at will, using more spin moves than die M - I I Sa(KrkaaiMirfkiiulskkheaRo I Good at jfi pirticipating Bonoo Muia lootiora. Pre ooupoo when ordering. Only one coupon per viiit per custom. Coupon a no redeemable fcf ash, foe gift amfma, or with any other coupon special ofe. No reproductions iflowrA Apptabk caa pad by bora: Noath iduod. Offer etpiia 4697. i j j March 1 hhhku fmm Kyi Green A familiar pose: Karl Malone finishes off a fast break with a style of all bis own. Malone led the Jazz in scoring with 32 in the Jazz loss. match-up- . Payton outscorcd 9, tec cups at Disneyland to blow by 7:30 Stockton for easy lajHips. "Gary was able to get to the basket fairly easily," said Seattle coach George KarL "That led to easy shots for himself and die other players." . Dctlcf Schrempf also made a huge contribution for the Sonics, scoring 20 Marriott Center for Dance points and holding Utah's Bryon Russell to only six. "I thought I played pretty good TJ' '! on (Schrempf)," said Russell. "On offense I was missing everything. I don't know what was going on." . f If Tickets $5.00 with U. of U. Student I.D. $7.00 General Public Available at the Union Main Desk, Tom Tom Music, Mama's Cafe, Local Music and Holiday Music Russell did hit perhaps the games biggest shot, next to Payton's - game-winner- . Wall the Jazz traihng by three with 22 seconds left in regulation, Russell caught a pass from Antionc Carr and calmly knocked down the game-tyin- g three that sent the game to overtime. It was Russell's Erst points of the game. ; "When k went in I was like 'oh my God', said Russell. "I was definitely due." But in the ewtirne Schrempf and ' . i . t n raywn cuuk cmxim, eventually puiung ' the game out on Payton's shot - . ,