LOS ANGELES -- The BYU women’s gymnastics team competed in NCAA Regionals at UCLA on Saturday and finished in sixth despite strong performances that received unusually low scores. The Cougars came into the meet as the fifth seed out of six teams invited to compete in the Los Angeles Regional and finished with a team score of 193.400. UCLA came out on top with a 197.825 followed by Arkansas with a final team score of 196.675. Both UCLA and Arkansas will advance to the NCAA National Championships.

“We did some good things tonight and we did some things we wish we could correct,” BYU head coach Brad Cattermole said following the meet. “We only had five girls who had ever competed in Regionals though and I think tonight gave us some good experience that we can take into next year.”

The team opened the night competing on the balance beam where each gymnast performed a solid routine for the Cougars. BYU hit every routine and finished the rotation in third behind Arkansas and Arizona State with a team score of 48.350. UCLA and Arizona had a bye in the first rotation.

Kaylee Gallup, who competed individually on beam in NCAA Regionals last year, led the Cougars on beam with a 9.725. Megan Donehue began her routine with a shaky mount but from there on performed a near-perfect routine scoring a 9.675. The last three scores that were counted were all scores of 9.650 from Natalie Eyre, Krysten Koval and Madeleine Johnson.

BYU had a bye in the second rotation before competing in the third rotation on floor exercise. Despite a fall in the first routine of the rotation, the Cougars pulled through in the clutch performing five consecutive routines of 9.600 or higher and did not have to count the fall on floor. Danielle Goldman and Haylee Rollins led BYU, both scoring 9.750. Jennifer Lezeu followed close behind with a 9.700. After competing on floor, the Cougars were in fifth with a team score of 96.800 trailing fourth place Arizona State by just one-tenth.

Rollins, a freshman, paced BYU on vault scoring team-high 9.700. Despite once again receiving low marks, the Cougars did not have to a count the one fall that they encountered on vault. Rollins was followed by Gallup with a 9.650. Another freshman, Sarah Yandow, followed close behind with a 9.625. BYU finished the rotation with a team score of 144.925. The Cougars had a bye once again after vault.

In the final rotation BYU finished strong with their highest event score of the night. Donehue, a senior, performed the Cougars last routine of the night scoring a team-high 9.800. Donehue was followed by two of her fellow seniors, Goldman and McKell Merkley, with scores of 9.725 and 9.675 respectively. The three along with Gallup competed for the last time for BYU after giving four years of their time and dedication.

“Our seniors were great tonight,” Cattermole said. “We’re going to miss them and we’re proud of all they’ve done here for our program. ”

NCAA RELEASE

INDIANAPOLIS---The 2010 National Collegiate Women's Gymnastics Championships regional selections were announced today by the NCAA.

Six teams, five all-around competitors (who are not on a qualifying team) and one individual event specialist per event [who has a minimum Regional Qualifying Score (RQS) of 9.4] were named to each of the six regions.

The top-18 teams were seeded on a national basis, based on RQS. Teams 19-36 were assigned to a regional site based on geographic proximity. All-around competitors and event specialists were assigned within their respective regions.

In case of ties for the last berth into regional competition and for seeding purposes, the team, all-around competitor or individual event specialist with the highest score, not including the six used for the regional qualifying score, will qualify. If a tie still exists, the process is continued until the tie is broken.

The qualifying teams and individuals are listed below. All regionals will be conducted at 6 p.m. local time, Saturday, April 10.

Los Angeles Regional - California (University of California, Los Angeles, host)

Teams

1. UCLA

2. Arkansas

3. Iowa State

4. Arizona

5. Brigham Young

6. Arizona State

All-Around Competitors Individual Event Specialists

1. Alaina Baker, Cal State Fullerton Vault - Shakea Sanders, Alaska Anchorage

2. Lily Swan, San Jose State Alt. - Nicole Meiller, Sacramento State

3. Tanya Ho, UC Davis Uneven Bars - Lida Gehlen, UC Davis

4. Eryn Stubblefield, Sacramento State Alt. - Britni Echeverria, Cal State Fullerton

5. Katie Yamamura, UC Davis Balance Beam - Cayla Boyce, Sacramento State

Alt. - Kendall McAnn, UC Davis Alt. - Marcy Miller, UC Davis

Floor Exercise - Gabrielle Targosz, San Jose State

Alt. - Tiffany Louie, San Jose State

Salt Lake City Regional - Utah (University of Utah, host)

Teams

1. Florida

2. Utah

3. Auburn

4. Boise State

5. Denver

6. Washington

All-Around Competitors Individual Event Specialists

1. Heather Heinrich, Utah State Vault - Gabi Hooper, Wisconsin-La Crosse

2. Jenna Dudley, Air Force Alt. - Jackie Dillon, Utah State

3. Lyndsie Boone, Utah State Uneven Bars - Jackie Dillon, Utah State

4. Brittany Dutton, Air Force Alt. - Amanda Watamaniuk, Utah State

5. Meghan Hargens, Wisconsin-Stout Balance Beam - Lisa Wong, Air Force

Alt. - Amanda Watamaniuk, Utah State Alt. - Naomi DeLara, Wisconsin-Stout

Floor Exercise - Michelle Denise, Air Force

Alt. - Amelia Montoya, Utah State

Columbia Regional - Missouri (University of Missouri, Columbia, host)

Teams

1. Georgia

2. Oregon State

3. Missouri

4. Minnesota

5. Iowa

6. North Carolina

All-Around Competitors Individual Event Specialists

1. Rashonda Cannie, Texas Woman's University Vault - Chantel Turk, Illinois-Chicago

2. Erica Schick, Illinois State Alt. - Brianna Gaddie, Southeast Missouri State

3. Jordan Salsberg, Southeast Missouri State Uneven Bars - Ashley Guerra, Northern Illinois

4. Rachel Montoya, Illinois-Chicago Alt. - Christina Sundgren, Southeast Missouri State

5. Rikara Turner, Southeast Missouri State Balance Beam - Hannah Deutsch, Illinois State

Alt. - Andrea Skala, Illinois-Chicago Alt. - Melissa Mann, Illinois State

Floor Exercise - Brianna Gaddie, Southeast Missouri State

Alt. - Kristin Edwards, Texas Woman's University

Lexington Regional - Kentucky (University of Kentucky, host)

Teams

1. Alabama

2. Nebraska

3. Illinois

4. Kentucky

5. Central Michigan

6. Michigan State

All-Around Competitors Individual Event Specialists

1. Kristine Garbarino, Western Michigan Vault - Danielle Wishart, Bowling Green

2. Kaylyn Millick, Eastern Michigan Alt. - Erin Grigg, Eastern Michigan

3. Brittney Emmons, Ball State Uneven Bars - Bibiana Rodriguez-Lockwood, Ball State

4. Breanne Guy, Bowling Green Alt. - Katelyn Busacker, Ball State

5. Kasey Fillmore, Bowling Green Balance Beam - Nikole Viltz, Eastern Michigan

Alt. - Erin Grigg, Eastern Michigan Alt. - Caroline O'Brien, Western Michigan

Floor Exercise - Tiffany Brodbeck, Ball State

Alt. - Danielle Wishart, Bowling Green

University Park Regional - Pennsylvania (Pennsylvania State University, host)

Teams

1. Oklahoma

2. LSU

3. Penn State

4. Maryland

5. Ohio State

6. New Hampshire

All-Around Competitors Individual Event Specialists

1. Alicia Talucci, Pittsburgh Vault - Dani Bryan, Pittsburgh

2. Bridgette Kivisto, Yale Alt. - Monica Mesalles, Bridgeport

3. Lorraine Galow, Bridgeport Uneven Bars - Jennifer Liberato, Pittsburgh

4. Megan Biros, Pittsburgh Alt. - Carissa Huggins, Bridgeport

5. Miranda Der, Bridgeport Balance Beam - Emily Repko, Bridgeport

Alt. - Jenna Zito, Rutgers Alt. - Melanie Standridge, Cornell

Floor Exercise - Lauren Gildemeyer, Brockport

Alt. - Monica Mesalles, Bridgeport

Morgantown Regional - West Virginia (West Virginia University, host)

Teams

1. Stanford

2. Michigan

3. Southern Utah

4. North Carolina State

5. Kent State

6. West Virginia

All-Around Competitors Individual Event Specialists

1. Leslie Delima, George Washington Vault - Avis Hixon, Towson

2. Alise McDonald, Towson Alt. - Kacy Catanzaro, Towson

3. Megan Quinn, George Washington Uneven Bars - Jackie Schweitzer, Towson

4. Kayla Carto, George Washington Alt. - Jennifer Stack, William and Mary

5. Teenie Beck, William and Mary Balance Beam - Jackie Schweitzer, Towson

Alt. - Megan Wooden, Towson Alt. - Kacy Catanzaro, Towson

Floor Exercise - Avis Hixon, Towson

Alt. - Dina McNaughton, William and Mary

The top two teams and the top two all-around competitors (who are not on an advancing team) from each regional will receive an automatic berth to the national championships in Gainesville, Florida, April 22-24, hosted by the University of Florida.

In addition, the event winners at the regional championships will advance to the national championships (in that event only) if they are not part of a qualifying team or the all-around qualifiers.

For more information regarding the National Collegiate Women's Gymnastics Championships, log on to www.NCAA.com.