The Utes (9-0), whose theme could be "Bigger and Better" as they continue to load their routines with difficult skills this season, overcame a slim margin after the first rotation and turned the meet into blowout as they performed their highly rated routines with ease while the Bruins (12-1) struggled. Utah's score was the second-highest of the season, just short of the 197.75 scored against Minnesota.

The win was the Utes' fifth straight over their West Coast rival and perhaps the most impressive considering they were competing for the second time in three days, on the road and against a team many expect will make the Super Six at the NCAA Championships.

The Utes can only hope if the teams meet in April at the NCAAs, the outcome will be similar to Sunday's.

"Oh my gosh, to compete twice in a weekend and improve in the second meet, that is just awesome," junior Kristina Baskett said. "It shows we can do this in April. We were all tired, but to come in and do this in the second meet is awesome."

Utah's top event was the floor, where it scored a 49.55. Daria Bijak gave the Utes their first big mark with a career-best 9.9 as the second gymnast to go in the lineup. Annie DiLuzio tied her career high with

a 9.925 and Kristina Baskett equaled it. Ashley Postell finished the rotation with a 9.95, one of her many high scores that helped her win the all-around with a 39.725.

"This was another big confidence builder for us," Utah coach Greg Marsden said. "The meet was close through two rotations but we didn't tighten up and we went out on the floor and did our thing."

While the Utes were posting one big score on the floor after another, the Bruins were struggling on their weakest event, the balance beam. The Bruins had two falls on the event and scored only a 48.425.

Things became even worse for UCLA when Brittani McCullough fell on her head during floor warm-ups and didn't compete. Another gymnast, Anna Li, landed short on her double layout and couldn't finish her routine.

UCLA coach Valorie Kondos Fields said she believed Li suffered a concussion in warm-ups, which led to her struggles.

"It was uncharacteristically rough for us," she said. "I'm not trying to make excuses, but when you have one of your top athletes say she is OK and she's not - a lot of weird things happened."

But even if the Bruins had pulled out a big score on floor it wouldn't have been enough to rally past the Utes, who finished with a 49.3 on the balance beam led by Postell's 9.925.

It was a big ending to a meet that had all of the makings of a close one when it started. The Utes were shaky on bars with Jessica Duke (9.75) taking a big step forward on her landing, Bijak (9.75) over-rotating but covering the mistake by throwing in a couple of extra skills and Postell (9.9) almost over-rotating too.

UCLA was faring better on the vault, and led the Utes 49.275-49.2 after the first rotation. It marked the first time the Utes have trailed since the season-opening win over Georgia.

"We have a lot of respect for Utah, and vault is one of our worst events," Kondos Fields said. "When we were leading after that, I thought 'OK, game on.' We knew we can compete with them, but it's interesting how fast the ball can roll in the other direction."

lwodraksa@sltrib.com

Utah vs. UCLA regular season

2008: 197.45-195.825

2007: 196.325-195.975

2006: 194.875-193.85

2005: 197.675-197.3

2004: 197.35-196.375

Vault: Ashley Postell (Utah) 9.95

Uneven bars: Kristina Baskett (Utah) 9.925

Balance beam: Ashley Postell (Utah) 9.925

Floor: Tasha Schwikert (UCLA)

and Ashley Postell (Utah) 9.95

All-Around: Ashley Postell (Utah) 39.725

* IN SHORT: The Utes remained undefeated and earned their fifth straight win over the Bruins. KEY STAT: Utah sophomore Daria Bijak had career highs of 9.9 on the vault and floor

* KEY MOMENT: The Utes tied their season best on the floor with a 49.55 while the Bruins had two falls off the balance beam and scored just 48.425.

* KEY MOMENT: The Utes tie their season best on the floor with a 49.55, while the Bruins suffer two falls off the balance beam and score just 48.425.