PROVO, Utah – While earning the highest team score of the 2017 season, BYU gymnastics fell to Utah State by a score of 195.300 to 195.200 on Friday night at the Smith Fieldhouse.

“We really held our own tonight; our performances were great and we’ll take the score and we’ll move forward,” BYU head coach Guard Young said. “I love that we were able to bring in a lot of different players, give them experience and let them compete.”

The Cougars recorded season-high scores in three of the four rotations, scoring a 48.725 on vault, 48.825 on beam and 48.800 on floor.

Several BYU gymnasts recorded career high performances, including freshman Briana Pearson, who set career highs on beam and floor with scores of 9.725 and 9.850, respectively.

Cougar freshman Shannon Hortman was named the all-around winner with a 38.425 performance.

BYU began with an impressive start in the first rotation as three Cougars recorded career-best performances on vault. Sophomore Cheyenne Hill scored highest with a 9.825 and freshman Angel Zhong followed with a 9.800 showing. Freshman Lauren Love also scored a career-best with a 9.750. The Aggies responded with a strong performance on the bars to take a 48.950 to 48.750 lead at the conclusion of the first rotation.

Next, the Cougars moved to uneven bars. Hortman and junior Jill van Mierlo both scored a 9.825, a season-high for van Mierlo and a repeat of Hortman’s career-best. Sophomore Natasha Trejo also tied her career-best with a 9.800 score. Meanwhile on vault, Utah State scored a 48.725 to hold on to a narrow 97.675 to 97.575 advantage.

The third rotation featured BYU on beam with the Aggies on the floor. Three Cougars recorded career-best performances to help BYU to a 48.575 score. Freshman Hannah Miller scored highest with a 9.775 followed by sophomore Savanna Maradiga’s 9.750 scoring and Pearson’s debut performance of 9.725. Going into the fourth rotation, Utah State held a 146.475 to 146.150 lead after scoring a 48.800.

BYU’s fourth and final rotation came on the floor with the Cougars earning a score of 49.050. Pearson set her second career-high score of the night with a 9.850 while both van Mierlo and Hortman earned scores of 9.825, also a career high for Hortman. Freshman Erin Hilton added her own career-high score with a 9.775 routine. The Aggies scored a 48.825 on beam to edge out the Cougars setting the final tally at 195.300 to 195.200

BYU will travel next to Boise to compete in the Gem State Invitational hosted by Boise State on Friday, Jan. 27 at 7:30 p.m. MST at Century Link Arena.
 

PROVO, Utah — BYU gymnastics hosts Utah State in its first conference meet of the season Friday night at the Smith Fieldhouse.

“It’s going to be a battle and it’s going to come down to which team hits more routines and sticks more dismounts,” BYU head coach Guard Young said. “We’re evenly matched in all of the events and we’re not taking them lightly. I want my best, healthy team forward.”

The Cougars fell to No. 5 Utah 196.900-194.175 at the Marriott Center last week. Freshman Shannon Hortman scored career highs on vault (9.850), bars (9.825) and floor (9.750). She then received Mountain Rim Gymnastics Conference Gymnast of the Week for the second-consecutive week, as well as Vault Specialist of the Week. Jessie Westergard also earned a 9.825 on bars while Jill van Mierlo and Mackenzie Douglas both earned a 9.775 to lead BYU on beam and floor, respectively.

Utah State comes off a tri-meet sweep over No. 16 North Carolina State and Bowling Green. The Aggies earned a 195.400 for first place, followed by the Wolfpack (193.900) and the Falcons (193.275). Madison Ward led Utah State on floor, tying her season-high 9.825 on floor. Emily Briones earned a career-high-tying 9.875 on beam. On vault, Katie Brown tied her career-high 9.825, and Bailey McIntire added a season-high 9.825 on bars.

The meet begins at 7 p.m. MST. It will be televised on BYUtv and live stats will be available online.