PROVO -- Setting numerous records in its secod home meet of the season, the No. 25 BYU women's gymnastics team scored a season-best 196.425, defeating instate-rival Utah State (195.250), Friday at the Marriott Center.
"It feels good to beat Utah State, but it doesn't matter who you beat," head coach Brad Cattermole said. "It matters what you score. That's how you get ranked."
The floor rotation, known as a strength for the Cougars, gave the team a lift as BYU was behind going to the final floor routine. Each of the gymnasts came alive on the floor exercises, with three scoring aboe 9.90.
Senior Kari Lords and junior Jaime Mabray tied for the top score in the floor at 9.950, as Lords secured BYU's top all-around score (39.0) behind Utah State's Alexandria Martin. Mabray tied her career best in the floor.
"Every meet they've been super strong on the floor," Cattermole said. "(Assistant coach) Dawn (Cattermole) is relentless. The team just doesn't make stupid mistakes. She won't let them."
The Cougars swept the top scores from each of the four events, with promising scores from freshman Marie-Helene Claveau. She recorded her career-best in the vault with an almost-perfect 9.975, registerd a career-best in her floor routine (9.900) and tied her best in the beam.
"The first score I saw was a 10 from the first judge, and I was a little surprised," Claveau said. "I thought, 'I can do this. I can vault."
Other Cougars breaking career marks were freshman Kacie Capra on the bars with a 9.925 score and sophomore Lisa Willis on the floor (9.900). Mabray also posted a season high on the vault (9.90) and tied her season best on the beam (9.875).
With the victory, the Cougars improved to 4-3 and will take on Boise State at home on Feb. 19 at 7 p.m. in the Smith Fieldhouse.