AMES, Iowa — The BYU gymnastics team passed the 196 threshold for the first time this season at the Hilton Coliseum on Friday evening.
Scoring a season-high 196.125, the Cougars came in second behind Iowa State’s 196.900. For the first time this season, BYU scored above a 49.000 on all four events.
"Both teams were hitting tonight, and both had great energy," said head coach Guard Young. "Iowa State is an amazing team, and the crowd energy was great for our first-ever Big 12 meet. The difference tonight was in our landings, we need to improve. Iowa State stuck everything, and we didn't tonight."
Eliza Millar-Crossman took home the highest beam score of the evening with a season-high 9.900 on the apparatus.
"We are really proud of Eliza," Young said. "She has become a leader on this team and she brings so much fire and passion to every routine on floor and beam."
The bar swingers found their groove early for the Cougars in the first rotation. With three 9.825s from Lindsey Hunter-Kempler, Kylie Eaquinto and Anyssa Alvarado, BYU ended the first rotation with a score of 49.000.
With all six vault scores above a 9.800, the Cyclones took an early lead with a score of 49.350.
The Cougars moved to vault and started the second rotation with a pair of 9.800s from freshman Ava Jorgensen and Sophie Dudley. Melissa Earl earned a new career-high score of 9.825 on the apparatus. With four scores above a 9.800, BYU earned its second 49.000 event score of the evening.
Iowa State’s bar lineup kept the momentum going, earning an event score of 49.250. With a total team score of 98.600, the Cyclones held their lead over the Cougars' 98.000.
BYU brought the energy in the third rotation with six exciting floor routines. Millar-Crossman opened with a 9.800, followed by two career highs from Olivia Matern (9.825) and Eaquinto (9.875). Junior Heidi Schooley made her season debut on floor tonight, closing out the third rotation with a 49.050 event score.
Heading into the final rotation of the night, Iowa State held its lead 147.700-147.050.
For their highest event score of the night, the Cougars earned a 49.075 on the balance beam. Millar-Crossman scored a season-high 9.900 on the beam, followed by a 9.850 from freshman Brynlee Anderson.
The Cougars ended the night with a team score of 196.125 to Iowa State’s 196.900.
Up next, BYU will host its first Big 12 home meet after a week off, on Friday, Feb. 2. The meet will start at 7 p.m. MT in the Marriott Center.