ATHENS, Ga. – The No. 9-ranked University of Denver gymnastics team scored a 197.275 in Saturday's NCAA Regional Final, highlighted by two perfect 10.0s from senior Lynnzee Brown (Kansas City, Mo.).
 
DU finished third overall, narrowly missing a team berth to the NCAA National Championships. No. 1 Florida (197.700) and No. 8 Minnesota (197.425) were the advancing teams while North Carolina State finished fourth (196.150).
 
By way of her second-place finish in the all-around during the NCAA Regional Second Round on Friday, Brown will advance to the NCAA National Championships as an individual all-around qualifier.
 
COACH'S NOTES
From head coach Melissa Kutcher-Rinehart: "We had a tremendous meet, considering all of the obstacles we've faced throughout the season. I'm so proud of this team's grit and resiliency, especially losing Emily Glynn yesterday and being without her today.
 
"It's been a challenging year with COVID and injuries. All year long, we had different lineups and different people stepping up without much training, and I think it shows the bright future of Denver Gymnastics and what we can look forward to."
 
SIGNIFICANT STATS

• Brown is the third gymnast in Denver history to earn two perfect 10.0s in the same meet, joining Michelle Kasuga on January 18, 2003, and Lenee Berumen on March 30, 1996. Both Kasuga and Berumen also earned their scores on both bars and floor.
• Denver's 197.275 is the second-highest NCAA Regionals score and third-highest postseason score in program history.
• Once again, DU only competed with five student-athletes on floor and set a new program record for top postseason score on the event.
• Freshman Rylie Mundell (Parker, Colo.) returned to competition, scoring a 9.850 on bars and a team high-tying 9.875 on vault.
• DU was without one of its top scorers on three events after senior Emily Glynn (Longmont, Colo.) was injured on Friday.

BEAM RECAP
DU opened the meet with a strong beam performance, finishing with a 49.325, which is now the third-highest NCAA Regionals score in DU history. Brown set the tone with a 9.900 in the leadoff, which freshman Abbie Thompson (Sanford, Fla.) matched in the next routine. Junior Alexandria Ruiz (Lake Mary, Fla.) and freshman Jessica Hutchinson (Gilbertsville, Pa.) added a 9.800 and a 9.775, respectively, while junior Alexis Vasquez (Arcadia, Calif.) anchored the rotation with a 9.950 immediately following a fall.

FLOOR RECAP
Without Glynn available, Denver again competed with just five student-athletes on floor but improved on its team score from the second round with a 49.475, becoming the highest postseason score in DU history. Brown anchored the lineup with her first perfect score of the night, garnering 10.0s from all four judges. Hutchinson tied her career high with a 9.950, and Thompson added a 9.900 to match her personal best set on Friday. Ruiz had a 9.875, and freshman Rosie Casali (Weddington, N.C.) scored a 9.750.
 
VAULT RECAP
Denver carried momentum into the third rotation, scoring a 49.275 to set a new DU record at NCAA Regionals – doing so with yet another new lineup. Freshman Rylie Mundell (Parker, Colo.) returned to the lineup, filling in for Glynn and scoring a team-high-tying 9.875. Senior Mia Sundstrom (Boulder, Colo.), too, came in with a clutch 9.875, and Hutchinson added a third 9.875 for DU. Brown's 9.850 and Ruiz's 9.800 closed out the team's counted scores.  

BARS RECAP
DU fought through the last routine with Brown's second perfect 10.0 of the meet leading Denver to a 49.200 on bars. Mundell returned to the lineup with a 9.850, which Casali also scored earlier in the rotation. Hutchinson was just off that pace with a 9.825, and Ruiz led off the lineup with a 9.675.
 
MORE QUOTABLES
From Kutcher-Rinehart: "Special congrats to Lynnzee Brown and advancing to NCAA Nationals and on her two 10.0s in one meet."
 
WHAT'S NEXT:
Brown will represent the University of Denver gymnastics team, presented by Your Front Range Toyota Stores, as an individual all-around qualifier at the NCAA National Championships on April 16 in Fort Worth, Texas.
 
CORONAVIRUS UPDATES:
For the latest University of Denver updates on the coronavirus, click here.
 
SHOP PIONEERS
Get dressed for game day! Get your Pioneers gear at ShopPioneers.com, the official online store of University of Denver Athletics.
 
DONATE 
Fans interested in making a donation to the gymnastics program can do so online. Your contribution will make a direct impact on the success of YOUR Pioneers. Thank you in advance for your unwavering support of our student-athletes and their quest for excellence.
 
- OUR JOURNEY, OUR TIME –
Like Denver Pioneers and Denver Gymnastics on Facebook.
Follow @DU_Pioneers and @DU_Gymnastics on Twitter.
Follow @DenverPioneers and @Denver_Gymnastics on Instagram.