PROVO, Utah — The BYU women's gymnastics team fell to SUU 197.125-196.150 behind several new career and season highs.
The Cougars had their highest team bar score of the season with a 49.225 and their highest floor score of the year posting a 49.350.
“There's fight in this team,” said head coach Guard Young. “We can't have those mistakes and that's what the next couple of meets is going to be about. We're going to go back to the gym and eliminate distractions and we're going to go out to the next meet and go in ahead.”
The Cougars started the night on vault. Sophomore Sophie Dudley started off strong for BYU with a career high score of 9.850. She was followed by another career high from Madison Really-Patton who scored a 9.825. The Cougars kept their momentum with a 9.9 by Sydney Benson. Freshman Kylie Eaquinto scored a 9.850 to close out the first rotation for the Cougars.
Following rotation one, SUU was in the lead with a team score of 49.250, but BYU was close behind with a score of 49.175.
BYU soared on bars in the second rotation. Freshman Jayda Lealaogata started for the Cougars with a 9.725, while sophomore Anna Bramblett led BYU with a career high 9.950. Anyssa Alvarado closed out the second rotation with a 9.900.
The Cougars trailed the Thunderbirds 98.475-98.400 going into the third rotation.
Despite two falls on beam, BYU ended the third rotation strong with a season-high 9.950 from senior captain Elease Rollins. Raesly-Patton posted a 9.850, and Mina Margraf posted a 9.8 on the apparatus.
The Cougars went to their final rotation trailing SUU 147.975 to 146.800.
Eliza Millar started things off for BYU with a 9.800 on the floor apparatus. Benson followed up with a 9.850 and Heidi Schooley posted a career high 9.875. BYU wrapped things up with a 9.900 by senior Rebekah Ripley.
BYU ended the night with a score of 196.150 to SUU’s 197.125. Benson took home the highest vault score with her 9.900 and Bramblett notched the highest score on bars with her new career-high score of 9.950.
The Cougars next compete against Boise State on Friday, Feb. 17 at 7 p.m. MT at the ExtraMile Arena.