LOS ANGELES, Calif. — The BYU women’s gymnastics team fell to Boise State 196.700-196.125 in the NCAA Los Angeles Regional competition at Pauley Pavilion on Wednesday afternoon. Anyssa Alvarado, Elease Rollins, Kylie Eaquinto and Sydney Benson advanced to the second day of competition as individual competitors.  

FINAL BOOK

Despite the loss, BYU earned a higher team score on both the uneven bars and floor in the dual meet against conference foe Boise State. Putting up the second-highest beam score in the competition was senior beam specialist Rollins with a 9.900. Also putting up some big numbers for BYU, Rebekah Ripley and Sophie Dudley earned a pair of 9.850s on floor, the highest in today’s competition on the apparatus. 

The Cougars started their NCAA Los Angeles Regional competition on the vault. Mountain Rim Gymnastics Conference Co-Vault Specialist of the Year Benson opened with a 9.800 for BYU. Freshman Eaquinto, MRGC Freshman of the Year, earned a 9.825 as the Cougars tallied a team score of 48.875 on vault.

The Broncos took an early lead of 49.025-48.875 following the first rotation.

Eaquinto shined again in the second rotation, earning a 9.850 on the uneven bars. Senior Lindsey Hunter followed with a 9.850 of her own, while Alvarado earned a 9.825. Anna Bramblett closed out the second rotation with a score of 9.800.

Despite a strong bars rotation for BYU, Boise State held onto its lead, 98.250-97.950.

Eliza Millar started off strong for the Cougars on the balance beam, notching a season-high score of 9.800. Freshman Madison Raesly-Patton followed with a 9.825, while Mina Margraf and Dudley earned a pair of 9.800s. Rollins, MRGC Beam Specialist of the Year, recorded a team-high 9.900 on the apparatus for the Cougars. 

With all five beam scores above a 9.800, the Cougars improved on their bars score by .05. The Broncos momentum continued as they held a 147.275-147.075 lead entering the final rotation.

Millar scored a 9.800 in the lead-off position on floor in the final rotation. A pair of 9.850s by Dudley and Ripley helped the Cougars earn a team floor score of 49.050 to finish the competition. 

Despite three team scores above a 49.000, the Broncos won the dual meet 196.700-196.125. Boise State will compete in the second round of the Los Angeles Regional competition tomorrow evening at 7 p.m. PT against No. 4 UCLA, No. 14 Missouri and No. 20 Stanford. 

Although not competing as a team in day two regionals, several BYU gymnasts qualified as individual competitors and are slated to compete in tomorrow's evening session: Rollins (beam), Benson (vault), Eaquinto (vault) and Alvarado (bars).

PROVO, Utah — The BYU women’s gymnastics team prepares to take on conference rival Boise State in the 2023 NCAA Los Angeles Regional competition on Wednesday in the Pauley Pavilion at 2 p.m. PT. 

MEET NOTES

This is BYU’s 31st trip to the NCAA Regional for women’s gymnastics, dating back to 1989. The highest regional finish for the Cougars was second place, which has happened four times previously in 1994, 1998, 2000 and 2005. BYU scored a program-high regional score of 196.625 in the Seattle Regional in 2022, placing fourth behind UW, Alabama and Michigan State.

BYU and Boise State have competed against each other three times in the 2023 season, with two dual meets and the MRGC Championship on Saturday, March 18. The Cougars went 1-1 in regular season meets against the Broncos, beating them at home 195.475-195.300, and falling to them in Boise, Idaho 196.500-194.925. BYU saw a second-place finish at the MRGC Championship with a final score of 196.575, while Boise State came in third with a 196.000.

Meet Information

• When: Wednesday, March 29
• Time: 2 p.m. PT
• Location: Pauley Pavilion
• Live Stream: ESPN+
• Live Stats: uclabruins.com

THE COUGARS. Currently ranked No. 33, the Cougars prepare to battle Mountain Rim Gymnastics Conference rival Boise State in the Los Angeles Regional. BYU last competed in the MRGC Championship, earning a second-place finish with a final score of 196.575. Four BYU gymnasts earned conference honors following the competition. Freshman Kylie Eaquinto earned MRGC Freshman of the Year, and First Team Vault recognition after competing on vault and bars in every meet this season. Elease Rollins earned her second Beam Specialist of the Year honor, with Sydney Benson earning Co-Vault Specialist of the Year honors.   

THE BRONCOS. Currently ranked No. 36, BSU prepares to battle the Cougars in the Los Angeles Regional competition. Boise State last competed at the MRGC Championship, taking home third with a score of 196.000. Boise State’s Emily Lopez was named a regular-season All-America Second-Team honoree on the uneven bars, the Women’s Collegiate Gymnastics Association announced. She also earned MRGC Bars Specialist of the Year and Co-Vault Specialist of the Year honors following the conference championship meet in Cedar City, Utah.

The teams will fight for the chance to advance and compete against No. 4 UCLA, No. 14 Missouri and No. 20 Stanford on Thursday, Mar. 30 for the 7 p.m. PT session.