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PROVO, Utah -The Utah gymnastics team improved to 9-0 by beating Brigham Young 195.825-194.250 in Provo. But none of the Utes were doing back flips over the win after once again trying to give away a road meet.
"We are a completely different team away from the Huntsman Center," said a concerned Greg Marsden. "I take responsibility for it. I'm not doing a good job of preparing them (for road meets). In front of 12,000 people cheering for them, they have all kinds of adrenaline. But on the road, they're flat."
Other than vault, where the Utes exploded for a season-best 49.475, mistakes struck on every event. Jessica Duke, who had fallen just once previously in her career--on beam in the first meet of the year--botched both her bar and vault routines. Steady Gabriella Onodi fell on both floor and beam, as did Gritt Hofmann.
Only Utah's all-arounders and part-time all-arounder Kristina Baskett--who went three events in this meet-- resembled the team that calls the Huntsman Center home. Nicolle Ford (39.525), Ashley Postell (39.450) and Nina Kim (39.350) went 1-2-3 in the all-around.
As has been the case all year on the road it seems, Ford and Postell pulled Utah away from the brink of defeat with clutch beam performances. Ford scored a 9.925 immediately after Hofmann recorded Utah's second fall on the event, and Postell finished with a flourish, scoring a season-best 9.975. Kim came up twice after teammate falls and also responded--scoring a 9.85 on the bars and a 9.80 on the beam. Baskett, winner of the all-around a week ago, didn't make the beam lineup this week. But she was plenty good on the other three events, ripping off a near-perfect 9.975 vault and a career-best 9.95 on bars, before finishing with a 9.775 on floor.
Joining Ford as individual winners were Baskett on vault and bars and Postell on beam.
"I'm not concerned about winning and losing," BYU coach Brad Cattermole said. "I'm concerned with whether we stick our routines like we should. Tonight we did at times but didn't at times we should have. Now we need to go out and correct the little things."
The Cougars came out hot in the beginning, notching a season-high 49.000 on vault in their first rotation. Brittany Fischer (9.700), Sierra Jacobs (9.850) and Hayley Jensen (9.800) all recorded career highs while Dayna Smart tied her career-high 9.875. The Utes' Kristina Baskett took first with a 9.975. Nina Kim and Nicolle Ford tied for second at 9.925
BYU struggled on bars in their second rotation as two Cougars fell. The Utes meanwhile recorded a season-high 49.475 on vault to widen their lead.
BYU came back with a vengeance in their third rotation, recording a season-best 49.075 to beat Utah (48.825) on the event. Smart led the way with a season-high and team-best 9.900. Alethea Boon had a career-high 9.850 while Kylee Draper (9.775). Utah struggled on floor with a 48.275 to help BYU narrow the margin.
Kacie Capra led the Cougars on floor with a first-place 9.825, tying her season high, on the last rotation. Smart added a 9.750 for BYU.
The Utes had strong performances from Nicolle Ford, Ashley Postell and Nina Kim. The trio took the top three spots in the all-around. Ford was first with a 39.525. The Cougars' Capra was fourth at 37.950.
Cattermole was pleased with Smart's performance on the night and so far this season though.
"Dayna has done well all year," he said. "She's mentally tough and goes out and sets a good example for the rest of the girls."
BYU will look to improve more next week when it travels to Mesa to take on No. 14 Arizona and No. 2 --ranked Florida Friday at 7 p.m.
Utah 195.825 BYU 194.250
TEAM VAULT RESULTS Utah 49.475 BYU 49.000
TEAM BARS RESULTS Utah 49.250 BYU 47.625
TEAM BEAM RESULTS Utah 48.825 BYU 49.075
TEAM FLOOR RESULTS Utah 48.275 BYU 48.550
INDIVIDUAL VAULT RESULTS 1. Kristina Baskett Utah 9.975 2. Nicolle Ford Utah 9.925 2. Nina Kim Utah 9.925 4. Dayna Smart BYU 9.875
INDIVIDUAL BARS RESULTS 1. Kristina Baskett Utah 9.950 2. Ashley Postell Utah 9.875 2. Nicolle Ford Utah 9.875 6. Cassie Myers BYU 9.675
INDIVIDUAL BEAM RESULTS 1. Ashley Postell Utah 9.975 2. Nicolle Ford Utah 9.925 3. Dayna Smart BYU 9.900
