Dee Glen Smith Spectrum
Dee Glen Smith Spectrum Logan UT 84322
LOGAN, Utah -- BYU's women's gymnastics team scored well for the second straight meet but again fell just shy of victory against an in-state foe as Utah State edged the Cougars, 195.550-195.450, in front of more than 2,500 fans at the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum Friday.
The Cougars, who moved from 20th to 14th in the rankings after a 196.300-195.800 loss at Utah last week, scored over 195 for the third time this season after only surpassing the score twice all of last year. The Cougars lost both meets to Utah State last season.
Like last week's meet at Utah, where the Cougars led after the third rotation only to be edged out in the end, BYU again competed well only to lose a third-rotation advantage to some good floor scores by the Aggies. BYU was consistent and did not score below a 48.800 in any rotation as Coach Brad Cattermole's squad tallied a 48.800 on bars, 48.850 on vault, 48.975 on floor and a 48.825 on beam. It was not enough, however, as Utah State was able to ride the momentum of the home crowd and comeback for the win with the best score of the night -- a 49.100 on the floor exercise -- to close out the meet. The Aggies also received scores of 48.675 on vault, 49.050 on bars and 48.725 on beam.
Utah State's Christy Denson won the all-around title at 39.400, followed by BYU's Kim Little (39.275) and Kelly Parkinson (39.250). Event winners included Denson and Little on floor (9.875), Little on beam (9.925), Denson on bars (9.925) and Little and Parkinson on vault (9.850).
Team Scores:
Utah State, 195.550
Brigham Young, 195.450
Event Scores:
Vault
(BYU, 48.850; USU, 48.675)
1. (tie) Kim Little, BYU, 9.850
Kelly Parkinson, BYU, 9.850
3. Kristen Fargo, USU, 9.800
Other BYU vault scores:
Angie Hickman, 9.775
Jeni Thomas, 9.700
Denice Pauga, 9.675
Hilary Johnson, 9.450
Bars
(USU, 49.050; BYU, 48.800)
1. Christy Denson, USU, 9.925
2. Jessica Porter, USU, 9.875
3. Kristen Bloom, USU, 9.850
BYU bars scores:
Mindi Hilton, 9.825
Leah Niepraschk, 9.800
Kelly Parkinson, 9.800
Jeni Thomas, 9.750
Kim Little, 9.625
Denice Pauga, 9.125
Beam
(BYU, 48.825; USU, 48.725)
1. Kim Little, BYU, 9.925
2. Christy Denson, USU, 9.875
3. Jeni Thomas, BYU, 9.825
Other BYU beam scores:
Kelly Parkinson, 9.750
Hayley Love, 9.700
Karen Nielsen, 9.625
Denice Pauga, 9.375
Floor
(USU, 49.100; BYU, 48.975)
1. (tie) Kim Little, BYU, 9.875
Christy Denson, USU, 9.875
2. Kelly Parkinson, BYU, 9.850
Other BYU floor scores:
Marisa Cosgrave, 9.800
Candace Cosgrave, 9.775
Denice Pauga, 9.675
Jeni Thomas, 9.675
All-Around
1. Christy Denson, USU, 39.400
2. Kim Little, BYU, 39.275
3. Kelly Parkinson, BYU, 39.250
Other BYU all-around scores:
Jeni Thomas, 38.950
Denice Pauga, 37.850
The BYU women's gymnastics team will travel to Utah State for a dual meet Friday at 7 p.m. in the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum.
The meet, broadcast by SportsWest Productions and televised on KSL Channel 5, is the second in-state meet in as many weeks. The Cougars came within a half point of defeating Utah last Feb. 4.
Leading the way for the Cougars last week at Utah was junior Kim Little. Little finished the meet with a team-high all-around score of 39.150.
This week the team will meet with the Aggies for the 79th time. The Cougars have a 42-35-1 record against the Aggies. The Aggies won both dual meetings last season.
The Cougars' next home meet will be Feb. 24 when Utah State travels to Provo.