BYU Comes out on top on senior night

PROVO, Utah – Coming out on top on senior night, No. 14 BYU beat both University of Washington and Illinois State at the Marriot Center on Friday night.

MEET RESULTS

"We had a good performance tonight," said head coach Guard Young. "But we have bigger goals than just winning a gymnastics meet on Senior Night. We are vying for a conference championship and going to make a run at the NCAA tournament."

Sadie Miner Van-Tassell tied her all-around career high with a score of 39.525 to take home the title. Along with the all-around title, Miner-Van Tassell also notched the highest score of the night on vault with a 9.900. Brittney Vitkauskas and Miner-Van Tassell shared the top spot on the podium for floor with individual scores of 9.925. 

Fifth year senior, Haley Pitou started off the night with a strong 9.800 score on vault for BYU. Elease Rollins followed with a 9.850. Both Lexi Griffith and Sydney Benson also came out strong with 9.825 each. Miner-Van Tassell ended the first rotation with a 9.900 to post the highest score on the apparatus for the Cougars. BYU finished the first round with a 49.200, Illinois trailed with 47.575 and Washington with a 49.125.

BYU led the scoreboard going into the second round. Lindsey Hunter began by posting a solid 9.800 on uneven bars. Allix Mason followed with a strong 9.825 for the Cougars and Anyssa Alvarado notched a 9.925. Hitting their career highs on the apparatus, Miner-Van Tassell and Pitou continued to shine with a score of 9.925 for Miner-Van Tassell and a 9.975 for Pitou. With the second highest score in BYU history on bars, the Cougars finished with a 49.450. BYU ended the second round with a total score of 98.650. Illinois and Washington followed close behind with 98.225 for the Huskies and 95.200 for the Redbirds.

Lauren Ono started off strong for the Cougars with a score of 9.825 on beam. Mason followed with a solid score of 9.800. With a few slip-ups on the backend of the beam lineup, the Cougars ended the third round with a 147.250, giving up the lead to the Huskies with a score of 147.325. The Redbirds still trailed at 144.000.

BYU finished the night on floor. Senior Abby Beeston began with a solid score of 9.825 for the Cougars. Soaring in their floor routines, Miner-Van Tassell and Brittney Vitkkauskas both posted individual scores of 9.925 for BYU. The Cougars took back the lead in their final rotation with a score of 196.45 to edge out Washington's 195.800 and Illinois State's 192.800.