SALT LAKE CITY — Sacramento State's Kalliah McCartney and Lauren Rice narrowly missed advancing to the NCAA Championships as both scored 39.150 to tie for seventh place in the all-around at the NCAA Salt Lake Regional on Saturday at the Huntsman Center. The pair missed claiming the final at-large berth to the NCAA Championships in the all-around by .125.
McCartney started slow with a 9.650 on bars but charged up the standings after receiving a 9.750 on beam and a 9.900 on floor to tie for fourth place in the event. The score was the highest received by a Hornet gymnast in NCAA postseason competition. The senior completed her night by scoring 9.850 on vault to tie for sixth place.
Rice started with a 9.800 on beam to tie for 13th place. She scored 9.775 on floor and 9.750 on vault. Her highest finish in an event came on bars where she scored 9.825 to tie for eighth place.
Sacramento State also had a pair of individual event specialists compete at the meet. Senior Cassie Benning tied for 29th on bars after scoring 9.675 and tied for 35th on floor with a 9.750. Junior Julia Konner tied for 12th on vault after receiving a 9.825.
Utah and UCLA earned the two team berths to the NCAA Championships. The host Utes scored 197.125 while the Bruins were second at 196.375.The two at-large bids in the all-around went to Southern Utah's Danielle Ramirez (39.400) and Washington's Allison Northey (39.275). Illinois' Lizzy Leduc also advanced after tying for first place on floor with a 9.950.
NCAA Salt Lake Regional Results
VAULT: T1. Kaliah Delaney, Utah; Madison Preston, UCLA, 9.900; T6. Kalliah McCartney 9.850; T12. Julia Konner 9.825; T23. Lauren Rice 9.750.
BARS: 1. Christine Peng-Lee, UCLA; 9.950; T8. Lauren Rice 9.825; T29. Cassie Benning 9.675; T32. Kalliah McCartney 9.650.
BEAM: T1. Danusia Francis, UCLA; Allison Northey, UW, 9.900; T13. Lauren Rice 9.800; T27. Kalliah McCartney 9.750.
FLOOR: T1. Lizzy Leduc, Illinois; Sadiqua Bynum, UCLA, 9.950; T4. Kalliah McCartney 9.900; T31. Lauren Rice 9.775; T35. Cassie Benning 9.750.
ALL-AROUND: 1. Breanna Hughes, Utah, 39.525; T7. Kalliah McCartney, Lauren Rice, 39.150.
