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Utah gymnast Missy Reinstadtler's debut in the Huntsman Center started with a short landing on the vault that earned her a score of only 9.225.

Times have changed for the freshman from Brick, N.J. She steadily has evolved into one of Utah's key performers.

Take Reinstadtler's performance against the fourth-ranked Bruins for instance. Reinstadtler scored a 9.825 on the uneven bars, a 9.875 on the balance beam and 9.925 on the floor.

Utah coach Megan Marsden said earlier in the season that Reinstadtler was a star in the making. Reinstadtler's performances have made that analysis prophetic.

"I think she has the potential to be like Sabrina Schwab or [Theresa] Kulikowski," Marsden said. "She has that quality of movement, that graceful element. She can make the simplest thing look incredible."

A foot injury put Reinstadtler a little behind her teammates in early season training. But season-ending injuries to Sabrina Schwab and Kim Tessen forced the Utes to use her more and earlier than they originally planned.

Marsden feels like the shorter timeline might have put more pressure on Reinstadtler, but the freshman shook off the notion.

"It was a pretty easy transition for me," she said. "Doing some of the exhibitions earlier, I was nervous because you are out there hoping to make the lineups. But I've been able to adjust."

It isn't like Reinstadtler isn't accustomed to pressure situations. She was a two-time Junior Olympic national champion and qualified as a senior elite gymnast in 2014 before she joined the Utes.

Her decision to attend Utah along with Tessen and MyKayla Skinner arguably accounted for one of Utah's best freshman classes in history. The loss of Tessen to an Achilles tendon injury has been disappointing, but Skinner and Reinstadtler are living up to the hype.

Skinner is undefeated in the all-around and Reinttadtler has been contributing in every event except the vault for the last four meets.

Reinstadtler has earned 9.8 or higher for 11 of the 16 routines she has performed for the Utes thus far.

"She is starting to work with the confidence we want in her," Marsden said. "We put a lot of pressure on her early to move up quickly, and the Huntsman Center can be a tough place for a freshman, but she is getting better and better."

Reinstadtler said she feels good about her improvement but isn't satisfied. Floor is her favorite event ,and she'd like to become more consistent there. And she'd like to compete for a spot in the vault lineup again, having competed in it just twice, earning a 9.775 against Cal on Feb. 4 to go along with her debut.

"There are small details like the landings and having better presentation on beam and floor that I can work on," she said. "Being on this team creates a sense of responsibility that you want to perform to a certain caliber, so that helps motivate me."

So far her attitude, combined with the work, is paying off for the rookie.

"She is becoming a star," Marsden said. "She is holding her chin in the air, and there is a sense of confidence coming from her now." —

About Missy Reinstadtler

Height • 5 foot 4

Year • Freshman

Hometown • Brick, N.J.

Of note • Has hit 15 of 16 routines. … Tied her season high of 9.875 on the beam against UCLA and set a season best of 9.925 on the floor. … Tied for first on bars and finished third on beam, fifth on vault and seventh in the all-around at the 2016 Junior Olympic national championships. … Qualified as a senior national elite gymnast in 2014.

No. 5 Utah at Arizona State

P At Tempe, Ariz.

When • 5 p.m. Saturday MST

TV • Pac-12 Network