After struggling on Friday night, the No. 20 Southern Utah and No. 12 Denver gymnastics teams both rebounded to post scores over the 196-point mark in a close contest at Centrum Arena in Cedar City, Utah, on Monday night.

The host Thunderbirds scored a 196.700 to set a new program record and edged the Pioneers by two-10ths of a point. Denver posted a 196.500 and bested Friday's total by two full points.

Turning it around

Southern Utah had been solid on balance beam all season until a disastrous performance on Friday night at Boise State. The Thunderbirds were forced to count three falls against the Broncos and only put up two routines without any major breaks.

Monday night was a different story entirely.

Southern Utah tallied six scores of 9.750 or better, including four routines that scored a 9.850 or higher. Kamryn Bayer and Danielle Ramirez posted a 9.900 to share the title on beam. It was a new career high from Bayer and tied Ramirez's career-best performance.



The Thunderbirds' 49.300 on beam was their highest team total on the apparatus this season.

Pioneers bounce back

Denver struggled on vault and uneven bars in a quad meet at No. 1 Oklahoma on Friday night. The Pioneers only put up five vaulters, which meant they didn't have the luxury of dropping a low 8.750 from Rachel Fielitz.

The Pioneers put up six vaulters on Monday and picked up a team total of 49.000 with five scores of 9.700 or better. Their top mark of the night came from Maddie Karr, who scored a 9.875 on her Yurchenko 1 1/2.



Denver was forced to count a fall on bars on Friday night as well. All six gymnasts scored at least a 9.800 on Monday night, though, to push the Pioneers to a 49.175 total.

Coming down to the wire

Neither squad led by more than two-10ths of a point after a rotation, and Monday's meet actually came down to the final floor routine of the night.

Once again, it was Ramirez who put up a big number. The Southern Utah senior sealed the meet with a 9.900 as the anchor on floor exercise, nailing all three tumbling passes and getting great extension on her leaps and jumps. Ramirez also took the all-around title with a 39.475 to set a new career high.

Up next

Southern Utah takes on Utah State at Centrum Arena on Friday night at 7, while Denver returns home for the first time in three weeks against Boise State on Saturday at 6 PM.


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Full video archives: Denver at SUU