Utah Utes gymnastics: Corrie Lothrop becoming a force for Rocks

She had three reasonably good meets after that, but in the last two, she's become a force. The Achilles, she says, is better than ever, and she won both all-arounds, scoring 39.425 against Arizona State and 39.50 last Friday vs. Washington.

That may have been her breakthrough. She upgraded her bars routine with a second release move and improved her handstands, scored career highs on bars (9.90), floor (9.925) and all-around and felt comfortable.

"I had a whole meet put together the way I wanted. It just gives me more confidence every week when I do a routine and do it the way I wanted," she said.

She'll continue to refine routines and try to harness her power, which sometimes makes her take steps on vault and floor.

Marsden is trying to get her to quit "over-thinking" on floor because, when she overdoes a landing, she'll think too much and under-rotate the next. But he is delighted with Lothrop, calling her "self-motivated, self-disciplined and easy to work with, fun to train."

Ute gymnastics

No. 8 Michigan (10-2) at No. 3 Utah (5-1)

Tonight, 7 p.m.

Huntsman Center

Short People Appreciation Night: Anyone 5 feet tall or shorter admitted free