NORMAL, Ill. – No. 19 BYU earned a 196.850-193.275 win over Illinois State University on Friday at the Redbird Arena to extend a six-meet winning streak. The Cougars achieved their second-highest score of the season in the road victory.

BYU vs Illinois Meet Results

"Great meet on all four events," head coach Guard Young said. "We had to rest Shannon tonight. Our backups were able to come in and they didn’t miss a beat. It was exciting to watch them come in."

In the first rotation, BYU took on bars and earned its second-highest score of the season on the event, a 49.125. Highlights included a team-high score of 9.875 by junior Abby Boden Stainton, snagging the event title, and a career debut by freshman Lindsey Hunter. Heading into the second event, the Cougars held a 2.375 lead.

On vault, sophomore Jordan Matthews, junior Avery Bennett and junior Abbey Miner all earned strong scores of 9.850. Matthews matched her career high, while Bennett and Miner tied their season-high score. Sophomore Sadie Miner led with a 9.875, winning the event title. This led BYU to a 49.225, the team’s highest vault score of the season, and widening the gap to 98.350-95.575.

On floor, the Cougars earned a total of 49.300. Sophomore Rachel Bain tied her career high of 9.825 that she set last week. Additionally, junior Abbey Miner earned a team-high 9.900, matching her season high. 

In the final rotation of the night, the beam team did not disappoint. For the second week in a row, freshman Elease Rollins led the team, setting her career best in each performance with a 9.900. BYU achieved its second-highest beam score of the season, a 49.200. In the end, the Cougars led by 3.575 to earn the victory with a 196.850—the team’s second-highest score of the season.

Due to nursing an injury, BYU senior All-American Shannon Evans took a break from the all-around competition. ISU’s Gabrielle Cooke walked away with all-around win, scoring a 39.125.

Coming up, BYU faces MRGC rival, Utah State, on its home turf on Friday, March 6 at 7 p.m. MST.

PROVO, Utah – No. 19 BYU hits the road for the second consecutive week, preparing to face No. 52 Illinois State University in Normal, Illinois, on Friday, Feb. 28, at 6 p.m. MST in the Redbird Arena. 

BYU vs Illinois Meet Notes

This will be the first matchup between the teams during Guard Young’s time as head coach at BYU. 

Meet Information

• When: Friday, Feb. 28

• Time: 6 p.m. MST 

• Location: Redbird Arena

• TV: TBA

• Stats: https://tinyurl.com/ud2fx3f

THE COUGARS. On a five-meet winning streak, BYU beat No. 5 Denver on the road, 196.200-195.175, for its first win over the Pioneers since 2011. Highlights included sophomore Adeline Rieder making her season debut on vault, winning the event for the night with a career-best 9.850. The American Athletic, Inc. (AAI) announced All-American senior Shannon Evans' nomination for the 2020 AAI Award given to the most outstanding senior female gymnast in the nation. Evans was held out of competing on vault and floor in Colorado last week while nursing an injury.

THE REDBIRDS. After four away meets, Illinois State returns home to host BYU. On Friday, the Redbirds came in second at the Unite for Her Pink Invitational against Temple, West Chester, Southern Connecticut and Ursinus. There, the team earned its second-highest score of the season, a 193.800. A gymnast to watch is Gabrielle Cooke, who scored a 9.850 on vault to win the event title for the night. Cooke competes in the all-around competition and achieved a 39.075.