Despite suffering its first loss of the season last weekend in a dual showdown at No. 2 LSU, the top-ranked Oklahoma women's gymnastics team remained in the No. 1 spot this week.
This is the seventh consecutive week that the Sooners have held the nation's top spot in the sport, but this is the first week this season that the rankings have been determined on the basis of the national qualifying score (NQS).
The top five teams, based on NQS, are Oklahoma (197.730), UCLA (197.455), LSU (197,420), Utah (197.235) and Florida (197.190). California, Michigan State, Missouri, Kentucky and Oregon State round out the top 10.
NQS is factored by taking each team's top six scores (at least three of which must be from away meets), drops the highest score and averages the remaining five. NQS will be used to determine the rankings from here on out this season, as well as the top 36 teams that will qualify for the NCAA Women's Gymnastics Championships in April.
The Sooners have beaten two of the top five teams (LSU and Utah) in competition already this season and host No. 5 Florida this weekend. They also have wins against five of the top 10 teams (California, Missouri and Kentucky).
In addition, Oklahoma is ranked in the top two nationally as a team in all four events: No. 1 on bars and No. 2 in vault, beam and floor exercise. At least one Sooner gymnast is ranked at the top in every individual event and in the all-around, and three Sooners hold top-two rankings in three events and the all-around.
Junior Faith Torrez, who has three consecutive scores of 39.600 or better, is ranked No. 2 nationally in the all-around and No. 1 on vault. Senior Jordan Bowers is No. 3 in the all-around competition. Torrez and Bowers are tied for No. 2 in the country on the floor.
Graduate Audrey Davis is the No. 1 ranked gymnast on bars.
The Sooners and Florida will battle it out on at 7:45 p.m. CT Friday inside Lloyd Noble Center. The competition between the No. 1 Sooners and No. 5 Gators will be televised on ESPN2.