LOS ANGELES -- The Washington gymnastics team finished with a team score of 196.775 in the first session of the NCAA Regionals second round this afternoon. The GymDawgs will advance to the Regional Final on Saturday, April 1 at 5 p.m. PT. They will compete in a quad with Utah and the top two finishers from tonight's second session. 

The Huskies, coming off a 196.375 at Pac-12 Championships on March 18, secured an automatic berth into the second round of the LA Regional.  

As the lowest ranked team of the afternoon session, Washington upset No. 12 Auburn and Southern Utah to join Utah as one of two teams from the session to advance to Saturday's Regional Final. 

We told you we’re not done yet 😎🤩

We secured our second highest score of the season to push us to the REGIONAL FINAL. #GoHuskies x #Unleashed pic.twitter.com/3BhnvvD0w7

— Washington Gymnastics (@UWGymnastics) March 30, 2023

The Huskies competed in the Olympic order and started out strong on vault. Brenna Brooks and Kennedi Davis led the way, each with 9.850s to contribute to a 49.050. 

Washington then moved on to bars, where Lilly Tubbs posted a team-high 9.900 in the fifth spot. Taylor Russon tied her season-high while earning a 9.875, and Morgan Bowles notched a 9.850 in her anchor spot. 

Lilly Tubbs leading the way on bars with a 9.900! #GoHuskies x #Unleashed pic.twitter.com/k5eDeySn2R

— Washington Gymnastics (@UWGymnastics) March 30, 2023

After two rotations, Washington was sitting in third place in the meet, before a dominant performance on the balance beam nudged them over the edge to take a lead over Southern Utah.  

The beam treated the GymDawgs well, providing them with their highest event score of the afternoon (49.325).  

Brooks got Washington going with a strong lead-off 9.875, finishing with a 9.825 or higher on each of her three events. 

Deiah Moody also earned a 9.875 and was quickly followed up by Kennedi Davis, who tied her career-high 9.950.  

Washington, who had to compete without all-arounder Skylar Killough-Wilhelm, dominated across all apparatuses and stepped up in ways they haven't had to all season.  

After the beam rotation, the Huskies clung to a .10 lead over the Thunderbirds, as Utah had clinched an advancing spot and the remaining team remained unknown.  

The GymDawgs notched a 49.175 on the floor with each gymnast feeling the pressure as the score between them and Southern Utah remained extremely close.  

GymDawgs by event: 

Vault (49.050) 

Brenna Brooks – 9.850 

Kennedi Davis – 9.850 

Bars (49.225) 

Taylor Russon – 9.875 (tied season-high) 

Lilly Tubbs – 9.900  

Beam (49.325) 

Brenna Brooks 9.875 

Deiah Moody – 9.875 

Kennedi Davis – 9.950 (tied career-high) 

Floor (49.175) 

Lana Navarro – 9.850 

Amara Cunningham – 9.900 

UP NEXT 

The GymDawgs will advance to the Regional Final on Saturday, April 1 at 5 p.m. PT. They will compete in a quad with Utah and the top two finishers from tonight's second session. 

To view the full 2023 schedule, click here.   

For more information on the UW gymnastics team, follow @uwgymnastics on Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok.