PROVO, Utah – No. 24 BYU women’s gymnastics tied its season-high floor score in a Big 12 matchup with No. 7 Denver Friday evening.
The Pioneers took home the victory with a 196.900, with the Cougars earning a 196.500.
Freshman Brynlee Anderson earned BYU’s highest score of the night with a 9.950 on beam, earning a 10.000 from one judge. This was the first time a Cougar gymnast has earned a 10.000 from a judge this season.
For the fifth week in a row, sophomore Kylie Eaquinto earned above a 9.800 on every event she competed in, with a 9.825 on vault, 9.800 on bars and a 9.875 on floor.
With all five scores on floor above a 9.825, the Cougars tied their season-high floor score of 49.325.
The Cougars started their night on the vault. Freshman Ava Jorgensen opened the rotation with her fifth 9.800 of the season. Senior Sydney Benson tied her season-high with a 9.875, followed by a 9.825 by Eaquinto.
Following the first rotation, the Pioneers led with a 49.225 to BYU’s 48.950.
BYU found its groove in the second rotation on the uneven bars. Allix Mason started off strong with a 9.800. Freshman Alilah Alvarado followed with a 9.800 of her own, tying her career high. Anna Bramblett anchored for the Cougars with a team-high 9.900, bringing BYU’s total bars score to 49.125.
With a 49.125 from the Pioneers on vault, they were able to hold their lead, 98.350-98.075 heading into the back half of the competition.
The Cougars moved to the balance beam for rotation three, earning a 49.100 on the event. Mina Margraf earned a 9.850, followed by a 9.900 from beam queen Elease Rollins. Anderson closed out the rotation with a new career high 9.950.
Eliza Millar-Crossman opened the final rotation for the Cougars with a new career-high floor score of 9.900. Olivia Matern earned a 9.825, followed by a 9.850 from Sophie Dudley and a 9.875 from Heidi Schooley. Eaquinto closed out the competition with a career-tying 9.875 and the Cougars ended floor with an event-high 49.325
The Cougars will be back in the Marriott Center on Friday, March 1 for a Taylor Swift Era's themed competition against in-state rival Southern Utah. The meet will be broadcast on Big 12 Now on ESPN+ at 7 p.m. MT.