Gymnasts Face 4th Ranked Utes Friday, Host Flip and Stick for a Cure Monday

Huntsman Center - (15,000)

Salt Lake City, Utah

Friday, Feb. 12, 2010 - 7 p.m. (MT)

 

ON TAP — ­Utah State [University] (1-7, 0-1 WAC) gymnastics will continue its two-meet road swing against in-state opponents when the Aggies take on No. 4 Utah (4-1) Friday, Feb. 12. The Beehive State battle between the Aggies and the Utes starts at 7 p.m. (MT) at Utah's Huntsman Center (15,000).

 

BEEHIVE STATE BATTLE-TESTED — Friday's meeting with Utah will be USU's third match-up with an in-state foe, after taking on Southern Utah Jan. 22 and BYU Feb. 5. It is also the second of a four-meet stretch against in-state opponents for USU, after BYU last week, Utah this week, Southern Utah on Monday, Feb. 15, and BYU Friday, Feb. 19.

 

RANK STREAK — Friday also marks USU's sixth-straight meet against at least one ranked team in the top 30. Friday's meet vs. fourth-ranked Utah is USU's highest-ranked opponent this season, after facing No. 25 Central Michigan Jan. 15, No. 30 New Hampshire Jan. 17, No. 21 Southern Utah Jan. 22, No. 21 Boise State Jan. 29 and No. 20 Denver Feb. 5.

 

FAMILIARITY VS. RANKED UTES — Since 1997, Utah State has faced Utah 18 times and the Aggies have faced a Utes squad ranked in the top five all 18 times. Friday will be the sixth time that Utah has been ranked No. 4 in the country when facing the Aggies. The Utes' average rank when facing the Aggies is No. 3 (2.77778 to be precise), being ranked No. 1 twice, No. 2 seven times, No. 3 three times, No. 4 five times and No. 5 once. The lowest that Utah has been ranked when the Aggies faced the Utes in those 18 times was No. 5 at the 2001 NCAA Regionals, hosted by Utah.

 

IN THE RANKINGS — Utah is No. 4 in this week's Troester Women's Gymnastics rankings while Utah State is No. 50. Those are the same rankings that both teams had in last week's rankings. The Utes are also ranked No. 1 in the North Central region rankings, while the Aggies are eighth.

 

 

TWITTER / FACEBOOK — Fans can also get live updates from the meets as well as other team information through the USU Twitter and Facebook pages. Twitter: www.twitter.com/USUGymnastics and Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=35977682308.

 

UP NEXT — Utah State's gymnastics team invites fans, friends and family to help in the fight against breast cancer when the Aggies host in-state foe Southern Utah in USU's annual "Flip and Stick for a Cure" meet Monday, Feb. 15, at 7 p.m. at the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum. All fans wearing pink will receive free admission.

 

"Being a women's sport and having female student-athletes, we realize that we are lucky to be healthy to participate in gymnastics,” said USU head coach Jeff Richards. “However, not everyone is so fortunate and we are honored to be able to help this outstanding cause for raising awareness for women's health, and be able to support and encourage awareness for this cause. The community support has been great in the past and we hope that terrific support continues this year."

 

For their special meet designed to raise awareness about breast cancer, the Aggies will be trading in their typical navy and white leotards for more suitable pink themed uniforms.

 

Fans are encouraged to wear pink as a show of support for the brave individuals battling cancer. All fans wearing pink will receive free admission.

 

Live results for Friday and Monday's meet are available by clicking on the "Live Results" link at www.UtahStateAggies.com, the official Web site of USU athletics. * Note: the links will only work after the start of the meet. Live results will also be available through the USU Gymnastics Twitter page at www.twitter.com/USUGymnastics.

 

Fans can watch the meets on Friday and Monday live online by clicking on the "Watch Live" link at www.UtahStateAggies.com, the official Web site of USU athletics. Fans will have to register and pay a small fee to watch.

 

For USU gymnastics ticket information, contact the USU Ticket Office at the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum, by phone by calling 1-888-USTATE-1 or (435) 797-0305, or online 24 hours a day at www.UtahStateAggies.com and clicking on the "buy/renew tickets" under the "tickets" drop down menu.

 

Additional Aggie sports news is available at the Athletics homepage Web site.