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Utah's gymnastics team insisted it could stay in the hunt for the Pac-12 and NCAA titles despite the loss of two key gymnasts to season-ending injuries. Turns out the Utes were right.

Utah, which beat rival UCLA 197.875-197.5 on Saturday, remains ranked fifth this week even though the rankings switch from season average to the regional qualifying score, in which rankings are based on an average of a school's six best scores, three of which must be away and the high score is eliminated.

Often times there can be bigger movements in the rankings as teams lose their high or lower scores. However, the Utes are in the upper half with a 196.965 average. Oklahoma maintained the top spot with a 197.89 average followed by LSU (197.655), Florida (197.435) and Alabama (197.085).

The Utes have three meets left: Saturday's contest at Arizona State, the home finale against Stanford on March 3 and the season finale at Georgia on March 11, but there is a sense the team is hitting its stride after the win over the Bruins.

"With the leadership on this team, they are becoming more like a veteran team," Utah co-coach Megan Marsden said. "Missy Reinstadtler is continuing to improve and become an important part of this team, and Macey Roberts is coming around, and with MyKayla [Skinner] on the team, all that builds confidence in the group as well. She has a natural confidence and that is rubbing off on the rest of the team and we are seeing that."

Even with the rankings, it can be hard to judge teams around the country until they meet because scores tend to fluctuate regionally. The Utes can take comfort in not only their Pac-12 efforts, but national results. The Utes have victories against No. 9 Michigan and No. 12 Boise State and will face No. 7 Georgia on March 11.

The Pac-12 has five teams in the Top 25.

"I love that in our conference we go toe-to-toe with top teams," Marsden said. "We enjoy being a part of that powerful family and as we head into the national scene, that leads strength to all of us in terms of feeling stronger."

Fan behavior revisited

Marsden said she has not spoken with UCLA coach Valorie Kondos Field since Saturday's meet. The UCLA coach was upset after the meet because she said some Utah fans were making rude gestures and calls to her team.

Marsden said she didn't see anything like that taking place and would have said something if she had. She also said the team might address reminders for fan behavior when they host a big meet.

"Typically people praise our fan base for being knowledgeable and friendly to other gymnasts," she said. "But I know things can happen too."

Of note

In the individual rankings, Skinner — who again won Pac-12 Gymnast of the Week honors Tuesday — remains in second in the all-around (39.596), seventh in the vault (9.911), 10th in the balance beam (9.882) and fourth in the floor (9.936). Baely Rowe is sixth in the balance beam (9.893). ... Skinner leads the Utes in hit routines with 28 of 28 while Macey Roberts is 11 of 11 and Maddy Stover is 7 of 7. … The last time the Utes competed at Arizona State was Feb. 1, 2014, when the Utes gave then-coach Greg Marsden his 1,000th win. —

The Top 25

1 • Oklahoma, 197.89

2 • LSU, 197.655

3 • Florida, 197.435

4 • Alabama, 197.085

5 • Utah, 196.965

6 • UCLA, 196.9

7 • Georgia, 196.735

8 • Denver, 196.55

9 • Michigan, 196.5

10 • Oregon State, 196.37

11 • Kentucky, 196.36

12 • Boise State, 196.33

13 • Missouri, 196.02

14 • Auburn, 196.015

15 • Nebraska, 195.985

16 • George Wash., 195.97

17 • Iowa, 195.95

18 • Washington, 195.875

19 • California, 195.785

20 • Ohio State, 195.595

21 • Arkansas, 195.535

22 • Illinois, 195.495

23 • New Hampshire, 195.29

24 • Utah State and Iowa State, 195.27