Aggies Edge Cougars in Women's Gymnastics

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