No. 23 BYU Defeats No. 15 Nebraska in Season Opener

BYU vs. Nebraska Final Results

PROVO, Utah – The No. 23 BYU gymnastics team took down No. 15 Nebraska 195.750 – 195.600 for the first time since 1998 Monday night at the Marriott Center.

"Our routines are practiced over and over again, but you just never know what is going to happen when you dial down and get in front of the lights and the cameras," BYU head coach Guard Young said. "We practice in the Smith Fieldhouse and this is the first time some of the freshmen have been in the Marriott Center. It was not a perfect day for the Cougars, but I liked how we responded. The future looks bright for us this season."

Going into BYU’s final routine of the meet, the teams were tied at 195.600 and the Cougars needed higher than a 9.725 to take the lead. Junior Abbey Miner was the anchor for the Cougars on floor and finished with a score of 9.875, helping BYU land the win at 195.750.

Miner won the all-around with a career high of 39.325. Junior Abby Boden Stainton followed in second with a score of 39.175.

BYU opened up the meet on vault with Miner leading the team with a score of 9.800. Sophomore Sadie Miner posted her personal best with a score of 9.775, while junior Avery Bennett and Boden Stainton received matching scores of 9.725. The Cougars ended their vault rotation .150 behind Nebraska with a score of 48.675.

During the second rotation, Boden Stainton brought BYU's highest score on the uneven bars, tying her career best with a 9.900. Abby Beeston and Abbey Miner broke each of their personal records with scores of 9.825 and 9.800, respectively. Junior Haley Pitou recorded a 9.850 to give the Cougars four gymnasts who scored 9.800 or better. After the second rotation, BYU took the lead with a score of 97.775 to Nebraska’s 97.600.

The Cougars moved to beam where Abbey Miner led BYU with a score of 9.850. Stainton followed with a 9.825 as well as freshman Lexi Mather with a 9.75 in her career debut. Going into the last rotation, BYU lost its lead as the Huskers led 146.600 to 146.575.

In the final rotation, Sadie Miner earned a career-high score of 9.875. Sophomore Brittney Vitkauskas tied her personal best with a score of 9.850, while sophomore Rachel Bain also received an impressive score of 9.800 during her first official career performance.

Next, the Cougars will compete on Saturday, Jan. 11 at 7 p.m. MST at the first-ever Rio Tinto Best of Utah NCAA Gymnastics meet at the Maverik Center. BYU will compete against Utah, Southern Utah and Utah State.