PROVO -- Led by an outstanding performance by senior Denice Pauga, the BYU women's gymnastics team defeated Utah State 195.600 to 194.250 in a dual meet Thursday at the Smith Fieldhouse.

Pauga, a senior from Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada, finished the night with a career-high all-around score of 39.325. BYU sophomore Kelly Parkinson finished the night with an all-around score of 39.275 to end the night just behind Pauga.

"I was happy with the mental attitude we showed," BYU coach Brad Cattermole said. "We did a lot of the little things that are important to doing well. After someone would fall or make a mistake, the next one up would get us back on track."

Another highlight of the night was in uneven bars where BYU senior Leah Niepraschk tied a school-record by scoring a 9.950. She scored a 9.950 last season at the Cat Classic in Missouri and is one of only four gymnasts in BYU history to score that high on the bars.

The Cougars will next face Southern Utah in a dual meet in Cedar City, Utah, Feb. 29 at 7 p.m.

BYU: 195.600
Utah State: 194.250
Vault: BYU 48.750, USU 48.600
1. Pauga (BYU), 9.800
   Parkinson (BYU), 9.800
3. Little (BYU), 9.775
   Hickman (BYU), 9.775
Bars: BYU 49.400, USU 49.125
1. Niepraschk (BYU), 9.950
2. Denson (USU), 9.900
3. Little (BYU), 9.875
   Parkinson (BYU), 9.875
   Pauga (BYU), 9.875
   Bloom (USU), 9.875
   Ellis (USU), 9.875
Beam: BYU 48.500, USU 48.225
1. Pauga (BYU), 9.900
2. Bloom (USU), 9.850
3. Parkinson (BYU), 9.825
   Degener (USU), 9.825
Floor: BYU 48.950, USU 48.300
1. M. Cosgrave (BYU), 9.875
2. Little (BYU), 9.850
3. Denson (USU), 9.825
All-Around:
1. Pauga (BYU), 39.325
2. Parkinson (BYU), 39.275
3. Denson (USU), 39.125
4. Bloom (USU), 38.975
5. Little (BYU), 38.900

The BYU women's gymnastics team will face a pair of in-state rivals this week when it hosts Utah State Thursday and travels to Southern Utah Feb. 29.

The meet against the Aggies will be the second time the two have faced each other in two weeks. Utah State won the first meet Feb. 11 in Logan 195.550 to 195.450. The Cougars have yet to face Southern Utah this season.

The Cougars have scored over 195 in their last three meets since scoring a season-high 195.800 in a loss at Utah on Feb. 4. BYU most recently scored a 195.425 against Stanford on Feb. 21.

The meet with Utah State will be Thursday at 7 p.m. in the Smith Fieldhouse.

Southern Utah will host the Cougars at 7 p.m. on Feb. 29. That meet will be in the Centrum.

On the Aggies ...

With the meet on Feb. 24, the Cougars and Aggies will have faced each other twice in less than two weeks.

In the meet at Logan, the Aggies defeated the Cougars 195.550 to 195.450. Aggie senior Christy Denson won the all-around title with a score of 39.400.

On the Thunderbirds ...

The meet with Southern Utah is on Feb. 29 at the Centrum at 7 p.m. It was originally announced as being on Feb. 28.

The Thunderbirds have a high score of 193.575 on the season.