Cougars Notch Season-Best Score, Win First Meet at Home

PROVO -- In its first home meet of the season, the No. 13 BYU women's gymnastics team scored a season-best 195.775 in defeating Boise State, 193.250 , and Utah State, 192.850. Two-time All-American Kelly Evanson led the Cougars with a season-best all-around score of 39.475, and the Cougars dominated on the floor exercise to take the meet.

"It was fun to get a home meet and perform in front of the fans," BYU head coach Brad Cattermole said. "Performing in front of the home crowd helps to keep the energy level up."

The Cougars' energy shined through especially on floor exercise. BYU scored a season-high 49.475 in the event on its last rotation to ice the meet. All six Cougars scored at least a 9.850 on floor, with Kari Dye and Evanson leading the way with each scoring a 9.925.

Several Cougars tied or set personal bests on different events. Megan Shupe nailed her vault again this week, scoring a 9.775 for the second straight week. Dye notched a career high on bars with a 9.850. Co-captain Brooke Craig scored a season-high 9.850 on floor and the other captain, Candace Cosgrave, also had her season-high score of 9.875 on floor.

BYU would have scored well over 196, but the Cougars struggled on balance beam and counted two falls. Lindsay Lines and Evanson had no problem on the beam and both scored a 9.875. The 9.875 tied Lines's career high for the event, and Evanson only missed her career high by .025. Craig also performed well on the beam, scoring a 9.750. Jeni Lopez, Jaime Mabray and Dye all had trouble on the beam though, and the score of 48.300 reflected their problems.

"We're moving in the right direction, but we just need to stay on the equipment," Cattermole said. "We're scoring the exact same way we do on the road, nail most of the events but we have to count a fall or two."

While BYU did improve its scoring as it has with each meet so far, the Cougars also scored well for their first home meet. BYU showed its consistency once again by scoring much like it has all season on the road so far.

Jamie Johns led Boise State with an all-around score of 38.950. Like the Cougars, the Broncos struggled on beam and excelled on the other three events. Utah State got solid efforts in the all-around from Jessenia Abrego and Nicole Kilpatrick, who each scored a 38.875.

BYU will renew its in-state rivalry with the University of Utah next week. The No. 2 Utes and No. 13 Cougars will compete in the Marriott Center Friday night at 7 p.m. Utah got the best of BYU in two meets last season, but Cattermole is ready for a great meet next week.

"I'm excited to do the meet," Cattermole said. "The Utah meet is the type of meet where the scores go up and the kids all get excited to compete. It will be in the Marriott Center so it should be lots of fun."