Big Week for Gymnasts

PROVO -- After scoring a season-best 194.850 against Boise State, the No. 23 BYU women's gymnastics team faces what could be the biggest week of its season. The Cougars will have two meets this week beginning with their last home meet of the season, senior night, Wednesday at 7 p.m. against Southern Utah in the Smith Fieldhouse. BYU will then travel to Denton Texas for a triangular meet with host Texas Women's University and No. 15 Arizona on Saturday at 7 p.m..

With just three meets left until NCAA Regionals, the Cougars will once again be counting on high scoring outings to prepare themselves for Regionals. In the latest polls released on Monday morning, BYU is ranked No. 23 with a Regional Qualifying Score of 194.185. Of the four teams in the state, only No. 2 Utah has a higher RQS.

"This is the time where you have to really hit your routines," BYU coach Brad Cattermole said. "This is where quality counts. We need to be mentally tough."

The Cougars recorded their highest team score of the season in their last meet against Boise State while hitting the 49.000 mark on bars for their second consecutive meet. Kylee Draper recorded a season-high 9.875 along with Kacie Capra to lead BYU on bars. Alethea Boon tied her career-high 9.850 on beam while Lisa Willis and Boon led the way on floor with season-highs 9.825 for the Cougars.

BYU will play host to Southern Utah on Wednesday night. The No. 33-ranked Thunderbirds are coming off a 194.000 performance against Utah State last week. SUU posted its highest team score of the season against the Cougars back on Feb. 10. The Thunderbirds will continue to be led by all-arounders Leah Sakhitab, Sheena Shaw and Ashley Sharpe. Saturday BYU will be in Denton Texas to face No. 15 Arizona and Texas Women's University. The Pioneers are ranked No. 50 in the nation and are led by Brisa Fuentes, Nakia Westbrook and Courtney Arno.

Wednesday night BYU will honor seniors Jennifer Matthews and student-coach Meghan Donahue. Matthews has emerged as a consistent scorer on bars after making the line-up in the Cougars' fifth meet while the team named Donahue as a Co-Cougar of the Meet Saturday for her help in coaching the team on bars and vault this season.

Start time for the meet Wednesday will be at 7 p.m. in the Smith Fieldhouse. It will be broadcast live on BYU TV. Live stats feeds will be available for both meets on the women's gymnastics homepage at byucougars.com.