RANDY METCALF/Arizona Daily Wildcat Junior Sheehan Lemley and the No. 13 Arizona Gymcats look to upset No. 2 Utah at home tonight in McKale Center.

Today is supposed to be a day of love, but in the past Utah has given no love to Arizona gymnastics.

In the team's 47 meetings, the Utes have won all 47.

"We've come so close," said UA head coach Bill Ryden about tonight's opponent. "We gave them a run for their money at Utah last year. We've always competed very well against them and have nothing but respect for their program."

Even though the No. 13 Gymcats lost at No. 2 Utah last season, Ryden said he saw the meet as a stepping stone for his young team. On the beam, UA used five freshmen öö Monica Bisordi, Jamie Duce, Kristine Harper, Katie Johnson and Stevie Fanning öö along with senior Randi Liljenquist.

"That was the first meet that I really saw that we had something special on beam," said Ryden about the five freshmen. "It was in front of 8,000 screaming fans and we didn't give in. It was one of the best performances on beam since I have been here. I learned real quick that we could go to war with these girls."

Where and When . . . Who: No. 13 Gymcats vs. No. 2 Utah When: Tonight at 7:30 p.m. Where: McKale Center Cost: Free

And Ryden has so far this season.

The five freshmen, not including the sixth, Jamie Schell, who has been out with an ankle injury, make up more than half of the team's competitive roster.

However, one senior has also gotten into the mix as well öö Nikki Beyschau.

Beyschau, who was recruited by Utah out of high school, competes for the Gymcats (4-4) on both the vault and the bars.

"I considered going to Utah, but it's too cold," said Beyschau, a native of Glendale. "I think every year against Utah, though, we get better and get closer and closer."

Utah (3-2) is considered one of the top programs in the nation, having won 10 national championships and finished runner-up five other times. Head coach Greg Marsden, who has been with the program for 28 years and has over 700 wins, anchors the Utes.

"Utah is a model program," Ryden said. "If you had to do it over the last 20 years they are definitely the top. Lately, no, but they are probably in the top five."

Marsden's teams, who are used to performing in front of thousands and people, could face trouble tonight in McKale center where the largest crowd all season has included only 972 fans.

"Unfortunately, they don't have a great following at home, so sometimes the environment can be a little sterile," Marsden said. "Without an enthusiastic crowd, it will be important that we not depend on it for energy. We're really going to have to create that energy within the team."

The crowd tonight could also be affected due to the holiday, but Ryden isn't so sure.

"A lot of our fan base is the college crowd who is up late anyway, and junior and high school students and their parents," said Ryden, who can't reschedule his meets because of McKale Center availability with the men's and women's basketball teams.

If Arizona is looking to end the 48-meet slide, it will have to try once again without Schell and junior Andi McCabe, who both have ankle injuries.

"We're hoping to have both of them back in March," Ryden said. "Hopefully."