There’s something to be said for home-equipment advantage, especially if you’re flipping upside down and landing on a piece of leather-covered wood the width of a coffee cup.

The UW gymnastics team will host the Utah State Aggies at Hec Edmundson Pavilion Friday night for the team’s first home meet of the season. The team will be looking to improve on its performance against UCLA at Pauley Pavilion last weekend, where the Bruins handed the Huskies their first defeat of the season, 194.000-188.175.

First-year coach Joanne Bowers said the team has been looking strong in practice but needs to gain more experience when it comes to hitting routines under pressure in competition.

“Anytime we’re at home, I think it’s an advantage,” Bowers said. “Now I think it’s just practicing competing.”

Bowers, who said she was impressed by the team’s performance at its Purple vs. Gold intersquad meet at Hec Ed in early December, hopes for fewer errors in front of the home crowd.

“If we can just get rid of the falls we can be right back where we were at intersquad, and then we can start doing better from there,” said senior Tori Quandt.

In the past, the UW has posted far more impressive scores at home than it has on the road, which Bowers attributes to performing on familiar equipment and being in front of a supportive crowd. Husky fans are noted for cheering in classic 12th-man style during meets, often energized by the team’s performances on floor exercise.

“Floor has always been a strength for this team,” said junior Natalie Gillan, the UW’s top all-around scorer at UCLA.

Utah State, whose squad includes four fifth-year seniors, boasts experience the Huskies don’t have. Nevertheless, Washington gymnasts said they’ll be focusing on their own routines, not the competition’s — a mistake from the UCLA meet they don’t intend to repeat.

“I think everyone pretty much got their nerves out this week,” said senior Chelsea Bakken. “Right now we have so much heart … I think we can go in and be more consistent.”

DO: Work high on toe, especially on balance beam.

DO: Have good form, including straight legs and pointed toes.

DO: Incorporate artistry on the floor exercise. Judges take notice when a gymnast has good musical interpretation, pleasant choreography and the ability to get the audience clapping along to a performance.

DON’T: Fall off an apparatus mid-routine or on a mount or dismount. This will earn a gymnast a five-tenths deduction from the judges. Stopping mid-swing on bars is penalized the same way.

DON’T: Step out of bounds on floor or taking excessive hops and steps on landings. Gymnasts strive for “the perfect stick;” that is, landing on your feet and not moving.

DON’T: Wedgie-pick. This activity will earn a gymnast a deduction from the judges and a lecture from the coaches.

Reach reporter Blythe Lawrence at blythelawrence@daily.washington.edu.