Cougars notch new season-high score of 196.650 to beat the Aggies

LOGAN, Utah — With a new season high score, BYU beat the Aggies of Utah State 196.650-195.900 at the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum on Friday evening. 

FINAL SCORES

"We are thrilled with how the girls performed tonight," said head coach Guard Young. "Utah State is a great team, and there was amazing energy in the Spectrum tonight. That is the gymnastics we have been seeing as coaches in practice, so it was nice to see the girls believe in themselves and perform as that level tonight. The girls focused on positive self-talk this week, which really paid off, and we saw great gymnastics tonight."

The Cougars notched their highest team vault score of the season against Utah State with a 48.925, led by Kylie Eaquinto’s career-high score of 9.850. BYU also tallied its highest beam score so far this season, improving by 0.95 on the night for a 49.350. For the first time this season, the Cougars did not have any falls on beam and notched two new career highs on the apparatus.  

The Cougars began their night on the uneven bars, with Anna Bramblett and Eaquinto starting strong with individual scores of 9.825. Senior Lindsey Hunter notched a new career-high score of 9.900, leading the Cougars on the apparatus.

With solid performances from all six gymnasts on bars, BYU finished ahead of Utah State with a team score of 49.150 to the Aggies 4848.625.

BYU continued to climb as they switched to vault for the second rotation. Freshman Madison Raesly-Patton made her career debut on the apparatus, notching a 9.625. Senior Allix Mason posted a season-high score of 9.850, and Eaquinto closed out the rotation with a 9.850 for a new career high. 

With a vault score of 48.925, the Cougars held onto their lead over the Aggies 98.075-97.825.

The Cougars found their groove on the floor apparatus in the third rotation. Eliza Millar started the group off strong with a 9.825, followed by a 9.850 from Sydney Benson. Sophie Dudley earned a new career high on floor with a score of 9.875, followed by Rebekah Ripley's 9.875 to close out the rotation.

Following the third rotation BYU held onto its lead over Utah State, 147.300-146.825. With all six Cougars earning scores above 9.800 on floor, BYU went to beam for the final rotation of the night.

Raesly-Patton started off the beam rotation with a new career-high score of 9.850, followed by another 9.850 by Mina Margraf. Lauren Ono earned a new career high on the balance beam with a 9.900. Senior Elease Rollins closed out the competition with a season-high 9.925 on the beam.  

"I am so proud of our beam team tonight," said associate head coach Natalie Broekman. "They finally did what we have seem from them throughout preseason. I know tonight's performance will invoke more confidence in them as we move deeper into our season."

After a 49.350 team score on the beam, the Cougars ended the night on top with a 196.650 to the Aggies’ 195.900.

The BYU gymnastics team continues its road trip as it competes against Southern Utah on Friday, Feb. 3 at 7 p.m. MST at the America First Event Center.