FORT WORTH, Texas -
Relative inexperience finally caught up to the Utah gymnastics team, which finished sixth in its NCAA Championship semifinal and ninth of 12 teams overall after crashing to earth on the balance beam.
Utah finished with a season-low 195.7625 to place behind Oklahoma (197.7875), Alabama (197.3875), UCLA (196.7000), California (195.8500) and Nebraska (195.7750). The Utes scored higher than three teams in the afternoon semifinal (Stanford, Auburn and Minnesota).
Until their meltdown on beam, Utah had exceeded expectations all season after losing a star-studded senior class that led the Utes to a runner-up finish in this same arena a year ago.