SEATTLE, Washington - No. 21 BYU finished its NCAA Regional run with the highest regionals score in school history.
"All the teams did awesome today and we are proud we hung in there with some good teams and had some great gymnastics today," said head coach Guard Young. "I am super proud of how we prepared to compete this year. Last year we were a little flat, and this year we trained harder and longer and I think it showed today. The girls handled the pressure and performed well."
The Cougars began the competition strong on the uneven bars. Lindsey Hunter posted a 9.825 to start the rotation, followed by a 9.850 from Allix Mason and a 9.825 from Anyssa Alvarado. Fifth-year senior Haley Pitou rounded out the rotation and the Cougars finished with a team score of 49.075. BYU went into the second round in fourth place behind Michigan (49.200), Washington (49.275), and Alabama (49.500).
BYU started the second rotation with solid performances on the balance beam. Both Lauren Ono and Mason posted scores of 9.875 to tie their individual career highs to get the rotation underway. Beam specialist Sophia McClelland also posted a 9.875 after a stuck landing and beautiful routine. Miner-Van Tassell notched a 9.825, followed by Elease Rollins and Mina Margraf posting individual scores of 9.800. With all six gymnasts scoring above a 9.800 in the second rotation, BYU finished in fourth with a team score of 49.250.
The Cougars showed off their personalities during their floor routines in the third rotation. Senior Abby Beeston began the rotation with a solid 9.825 performance, followed by Sophie Dudley’s 9.800 to tie her career high on the event. Addy Rieder showcased her consistency on floor with a 9.850. Miner-Van Tassell notched a 9.875, followed by senior floor specialist Brittney Vitkauskas who ended the rotation with a 9.875 as well. The Cougars went into the final rotation in fourth place with a team score of 147.550.
BYU’s final rotation of the night was the vault. Pitou started off with a 9.800 for the Cougars, followed by another 9.800 by Mason. Senior Lexi Griffith notched a new career-high score of 9.900 on the apparatus. In her first time competing on vault this season, Alvarado finished the rotation with a 9.800 for the Cougars. BYU ended the competition in fourth place with a final score of 196.625. The Cougars came in fourth behind UW’s 197.175, MSU’s 197.325 and Alabama’s 197.900.
No. 5 Alabama and No. 12 Michigan State finished in the top two places and advanced to the final round of regionals to be held on Saturday afternoon.