The University of Utah Red Rocks’ standing atop the rankings was in jeopardy as they suffered falls and wobbles throughout the night in a rough 196.150 – 194.00 victory over the Arizona State Sun Devils Sunday afternoon in Tempe.
Freshman Georgia Dabritz, who had been sick during the week, struggled throughout her bars routine, finishing with a 9.50 and forcing Utah to count 9.75s from Kassandra Lopez and Hailee Hansen. Utah finished with an even 49.0, their lowest score since a mistake-ridden opening rotation against UCLA in their season opener.
Utah jumped back on the vault, finishing with a 49.30 on vault. All gymnasts were solid in the air, but four of six had hops on their landings. Dabritz topped the scores for Utah with a 9.90.
The Red Rocks were top ranked on floor prior to this meet and had come off a 49.50 finish last week against Georgia, but falls by usually solid Dabritz and Stephanie McAllister and a stumble by Kailah Delaney on tumbling passes gave Utah their lowest floor score of the season with a 48.550 total. Corrie Lothrop scored a 9.90 and Kyndal Robarts earned a 9.85.
Utah’s standing atop the ranking was at risk as they headed to beam; the Red Rocks had to score at least a 49.20 on their final apparatus to stay above second-ranked Florida, who scored a 197.85 this week.
That standing looked to be forfeited by the Utes when leadoff gymnast Lopez fell on her first tumbling pass, but the rest of the Utes showed why they are ranked number one on the beam. Lothrop scored a 9.90 and Robarts and Mary Beth Lofgren scored 9.875s. The Red Rocks finished with a 49.30 on the rotation.
Lothrop and McAllister both competed in the all-around for the Utes. Lothrop’s 39.40 gave her her third straight all-around victory, while McAllister’s fall on floor–her first fall of the season–put her in a distant second with a 38.750. Utah finished with a 196.150, their lowest score of the season since the team scored a 196.025 in their season opener against UCLA.
Utah will work to keep their number one seed as they head to Michigan next Friday then host Stanford on Feb. 24 at the Huntsman Cetner.
