TEMPE, Arizona — BYU gymnastics finished in third place at the Tempe Regional with a score of 196.250 on Thursday afternoon at Desert Financial Arena.
Michigan State won the session with a 197.350 highlighted by a perfect 10.0 on vault, followed by Georgia with a 197.125. SUU rounded out the group with a 195.725.
MSU and Georgia will advance to the Tempe Regional Final on Saturday, Apr. 4. They will compete against the top two teams from tonight’s semifinal competition between Florida, Cal, Penn State and Arizona State.
In her final competition for BYU, senior Kylie Eaquinto scored a 39.325 in the all-around. Alilah Alvarado’s final competition as a Cougar was highlighted by her 9.8 on beam.
The Cougars opened regional competition on the balance beam. Juniors Alilah Alvarado and Chloee Hoke each posted 9.800's to lead off for BYU. Senior Kylie Eaquinto followed with a 9.825, and Brynlee Andersen-Broekman closed the rotation with a 9.800.
With a 48.975 on beam, BYU sat in fourth place heading into the second rotation. Georgia led with a 49.250, followed by SUU (49.225) and Michigan State (49.200).
The Cougars earned four matching 9.850s on floor in the second rotation from Scarlett Sonnenberg, Daisy Stephenson, Andersen-Broekman and Eaquinto. Deb Silva added a 9.800, bringing BYU’s floor total to 49.200.
Georgia maintained its lead at the midway point with a 98.675, followed by MSU (98.275), BYU (98.175) and SUU (97.675).
The Cougars scored a 49.100 on vault in the third rotation. Stephenson opened with a 9.775, followed by a career-high 9.875 from Sonnenberg. Ava Jorgensen tied her season high with a 9.875, and Eaquinto anchored the lineup with a 9.825.
Heading into the final rotation, the Spartans moved into the lead with a 147.750, followed by the Bulldogs (147.500), BYU (147.275) and SUU (146.600).
BYU scored a 48.975 on uneven bars in the final rotation. Deb Silva and Kylie Eaquinto each posted 9.825s before Ava Jorgensen added a 9.875.
The Cougars finished their season with a 196.250 and a third-place result.