CEDAR CITY -- After falling to Southern Utah University two weeks ago, the Cougars conquered the Thunderbirds 196.050-195.475 in Cedar City Monday night.
For the third meet in a row, the Cougar gymnasts made school history by breaking BYU's team vault record. Friday night the Cougars scored a 49.375 to break the record against Missouri, and this week they topped that score with a 49.400.
Sophomore Kirsten Pauga placed first on the vault with a career-high 9.950. Teammate Trisha Ashton came in second with a 9.925, which ties her career best. SUU's Molloy Bauer took third with a 9.900.
The Cougars competed well on the bars, although BYU's head coach Brad Cattermole felt that the girls were a little bit hesitant.
"I am happy with how the girls did on the bars," he said. "I feel that we were somewhat more cautious than we needed to be."
Although Brogan Jacobsen tied her career-best score on the bars with a 9.825, SUU swept the event. Carly Geronimo, Jessiann Andrus and Talayna Fortuanato all tied for first place with a 9.850.
The Cougars started out unsteadily on the bars. After two fall in the first three routines, the remaining Cougars stepped up to keep BYU in the running. Ashton took first on the beam with a 9.900, while three SUU competitors tied for second place.
"I would have been happier without the falls on beam," Cattermole said. "I am happy with the effort though."
Jamie Mabray and Candace Slater tied for first place on the floor exercise with a score of 9.925. The score ties both gymnasts' career bests. SUU's Sandi Lyman and Cayce Overstreet tied for third with a 9.900.
Mabray took first in the all-around with a 39.325. SUU's Talayna Fortunato took second with a 39.275, and BYU's Lindsay Butterfield placed third with a 39.175.
"Overall I am pleased," Cattermole said. "Our score in the 196's will certainly help our regional qualifying score."
Team ResultsBYU 196.050
SUU 195.475
Individual Event Results
Vault (BYU 49.400; SUU 48.850)
1. Kirsten Pauga (BYU) 9.950
2. Trisha Ashton (BYU) 9.925
3. Molly Bauer (SUU) 9.900
Other BYU Scores
Lindsay Butterfield 9.850
Jamie Mabray 9.850
Megan Pessoa 9.825
Meghan Donahue 9.775
Bars (BYU 49.000; SUU 48.125)
1. (tie) Carly Geronimo (SUU), Jessiann Andrus (SUU) and Talayna Fortunato (SUU) 9.850
Other BYU Scores
Lisa Willis 9.775
Kirsten Pauga 9.775
Jamie Mabray 9.825
Lindsay Butterfield 9.800
Brogan Jacobsen 9.825
Kari Lords 9.300
Beam (BYU 48.825; SUU 19.125)
1. Trisha Ashton (BYU) 9.900
2. (tie) Carly Geronimo (SUU), Molly Bauer (SUU) and Talayna Fortunato (SUU) 9.850
Other BYU Scores
Lisa Willis 9.750
Meghan Donahue 9.250
Kirsten Pauga 9.200
Lindsay Butterfield 9.800
Jamie Mabray 9.725
Floor (BYU 49.225; SUU 49.375)
1. (tie) Jamie Mabray (BYU) and Candace Slater (BYU) 9.925
3. (tie) Sandi Lyman (SUU) and Cayce Overstreet (SUU) 9.900
Other BYU Scores
Lisa Willis 9.850
Brogan Jacobsen 9.800
Lindsay Butterfield 9.725
Kirsten Pauga 9.000
PROVO -- In its biggest rivalry meet of the season, the No. 24-ranked BYU women's gymnastics team will host No. 9 Utah at the Marriott Center Friday night at 7 p.m.
The Cougars are fresh off a clean victory on Monday against Southern Utah University 196.050-195.475, but this meet will truly test BYU's ability to compete under pressure.
"The Utah meet is always a fun one," BYU's head coach Brad Cattermole said. "They'll probably be the best we've seen to this point, so we have to fight hard."
Utah is coming off a rare loss at Florida last Friday, scoring their second-lowest score of the season. The loss cost Utah in the national rankings as they dropped from No.6 to No. 9.
BYU's first meet this season was against Utah in Salt Lake. The Utes defeated the Cougars 196.8-194.7, while BYU's Jamie Mabray took first in the all-around with the third highest score in BYU history.
The Cougars are positioning themselves for the NCAA Regional tournament and NCAA Nationals. Their score against SUU should help them rise in the rankings as their regional qualifying score should rise also.
This Friday night is Great Clips Night at the Marriott Center and the meet will mark the end of BYU's regular season competition.
Coach Cattermole is overall very pleased with the season.
"It has been a long season," he said. "They all seem to be that way, but then you look back, and wonder where the time has gone. This team has had to overcome a lot of injuries and to step up and hit when they needed to. We are building a strong team for next year. We've had to get tough."
Cattermole is confident that the gymnasts will perform well against Utah, and then in the NCAA regional meet.
"We are where we want to be," he said. "We need to go out and fight. We need to hit our routines and avoid falls. We have control of our destiny."
