TUCSON, Ariz. — The BYU women’s gymnastics team scored a 196.050 in the final regular-season meet of the season against Arizona at the McKale Memorial Center on Friday evening. The Wildcats took home the win with a 197.275.

FINAL MEET RESULTS

Despite a difficult first rotation on bars, the Cougars bounced back to earn their highest team vault score of the 2023 season, notching a 49.375. The performance was also BYU’s highest posted score across all four events this season. 

The Cougars started their meet on the uneven bars in the McKale Memorial Center. Senior Allix Mason had a strong start, tying her career-high score of 9.875 on the apparatus. Senior Anyssa Alvarado scored a 9.800, and Jayda Lealaogata ended the rotation with a career-high 9.825.

BYU scored a 48.450, behind Arizona’s 49.225, as they switched over to the vault for rotation two. 

All six Cougars scored above a 9.825 on vault in the second rotation. Sophie Dudley started off strong for BYU with a 9.825, followed by a career-high score of 9.875 by freshman Madison Raesly-Patton. Sydney Benson kept the momentum going, tying her career-high vault score of a 9.900. Senior Rebekah Ripley also tied her career-high 9.850 on vault, followed by another 9.850 by freshman Kylie Eaquinto. Mason closed out the rotation with a new career-best score of 9.900 for BYU.

Although the Cougars put up a new season-high vault score of 49.375, the Wildcats kept their lead heading into the third rotation, 98.450-47.825.

BYU maintained the momentum on floor, starting off with a 9.850 by Eliza Millar and a 9.875 by Benson. Dudley posted a 9.900, which is her second-highest score on the floor exercise. Sophomore Heidi Schooley earned a 9.850, and Benson posted the team’s highest score on the apparatus with a 9.900.

Despite another solid team score of 49.250 for the Cougars, the Wildcats continued posting solid scores of their own, keeping them ahead of BYU, 147.775-147.075.

Lauren Ono had a strong beam routine to start things off for BYU in the final rotation, scoring a 9.875. Dudley notched a 9.800, and senior beam captain Elease Rollins posted a 9.900 for the Cougars. Millar rounded out the competition with a 9.725.

The Cougars ended the meet behind the Wildcats, 197.275-196.050. 

BYU will next compete at the Mountain Rim Gymnastics Championship for the last time before moving to the Big 12 Conference. The competition will take place on Friday, Mar. 18 at 6 p.m. MDT at the America First Event Center in Cedar City, Utah. 

PROVO, Utah — The BYU women’s gymnastics team closes out its 2023 season with a meet against the Arizona Wildcats on Friday evening at the McKale Center in Tucson. 

MEET NOTES

Meet Information

• When: Friday, Mar. 10
• Time: 6 p.m. MST 
• Location: McKale Memorial Center
• Live Stream: Pac-12 Network
• Stats: Statbroadcast

The BYU Cougars and the Arizona Wildcats have competed 10 times previously. The most recent meeting between the teams was on Saturday, Mar. 12, 2022 in the Smith Fieldhouse. Ranked No. 19 at the time, the Cougars took home the win in their final home meet of the 2022 season, 196.820-196.300.

THE WILDCATS. The University of Arizona Wildcats last competed against the Cougar's up-state rival, the University of Utah, where they fell 197.925-196.675. The Wildcats posted new season high scores on vault (49.250) and beam (49.350) against the Utes. They also walked away with five new career highs from their gymnasts, led by Alysen Fears posting a 9.925 on the uneven bars.

THE COUGARS. BYU last competed on Friday, Mar. 3 against the Ohio State Buckeyes at the Covelli Center, falling 196.575-195.575. The Cougars posted a season-best team bars score of 49.300 at Friday’s meet, while also posting a 49.100 on the vault apparatus. After two competitions last week, BYU earned two Mountain Rim Gymnastics Conference accolades. Sophie Dudley earned her first-ever conference award after scoring a 9.925 on floor, while Anyssa Alvarado earned her third Co-Bars Specialist of the Week honor this season, posting a 9.900.