Cougars Travel to Utah for Season Finale

BYU Fighting for Spot at NCAA Regionals

PROVO -- The No. 23-ranked BYU women's gymnastics team enters its last regular season meet as it fights for a spot at Regionals when it travels to Salt Lake City to take on No. 2-ranked Utah Friday at 7 p.m. in the Huntsman Center.

"It should be a very good meet," BYU coach Brad Cattermole said. "The girls should be mentally and physically ready to go."

BYU is currently ranked No. 23 in the nation with a Regional Qualifying Score of 194.450. Perennial national-power Utah is the only team in the state with a higher RQS at 196.595. The Cougars will need to score well against the Utes to fend off No. 25 Southern Utah (194.325) as the two battle for what could possibly be the final spot in the North Central Region at NCAA Regionals.

"Utah isn't our main concern this week," Cattermole said. "We've got to fight for a spot at Regionals. We need to hit our routines and score well."

Last week BYU recorded its highest score of the season against Southern Utah with a 195.425. The Cougars scored a season-high 49.225 on floor as four gymnasts tied career highs on the event. Kacie Capra led the way at 9.875 while posting a season-best 39.050 all-around score. Dayna Smart led BYU on vault, beam and floor Saturday against No. 15 Arizona and Texas Women's University but the Cougars had to count some costly falls on bars and floor on their way to a 193.725 outing.

No. 2-ranked Utah is coming off a 196.675 performance at No. 3 Florida in which the Utes' Ashley Postell won the all-around. Utah's deep and talented roster is highlighted by Postell, Nicolle Ford, Kristina Baskett, Nina Kim and Gritt Hoffman.

The last time the two in-state rivals faced off back on Feb. 24 in Provo BYU recorded its highest scores of the season on vault and beam and bested the Utes on beam and floor. Utah won the meet 195.825 -- 194.250.

Start time for the meet is scheduled for 7 p.m. and will be broadcast live on CSTV with tape-delay showings Sunday at 5 p.m. on KJZZ and Wednesday March 29 on CSTV at 7 p.m. Live stats will also be available on the women's gymnastics homepage at byucougars.com.