PROVO, Utah — No. 16 BYU recorded its third consecutive score over 196.000 (196.625) to defeat Sacramento State (193.000) on Friday night at the Smith Fieldhouse.

BYU vs Sacramento State Final Results

The Cougars earned season-high team score on floor (49.425), in addition to nine individual season highs, to surpass the Hornets.

BYU took on vault in the first rotation with junior Avery Bennett and sophomore Sadie Miner leading the way with team-high scores of 9.850. The score was Bennett’s season high on the vault. Junior Haley Pitou tied her season high with a 9.825, while senior Shannon Evans and junior Abbey Miner scored 9.825. The Cougars earned their second-highest vault score of the season with a 49.175 to take a 1.300 lead over Sacramento State.

The second rotation on the uneven bars started off shaky with a fall by freshman Anyssa Alvarado. However, she persevered and stuck her dismount, managing a 9.125. Highlights on bars included junior Helody Cyrenne tying her season-high of 9.800 and Evans making her bars debut after coming off injury, pulling a 9.925. While BYU recorded its lowest bars score of the season with a 49.025, they increased their lead over the Hornets to 2.450.

"I felt like today they were a smidge on the flat side but I hope they can learn from it and learn to handle their adrenaline and nerves," head coach Guard Young said. 

Evans, Sadie and freshman Lexi Mather led the Cougars in the third rotation on beam with scores of 9.825. Cyrenne followed with a 9.775, while junior Abbey Stainton recorded a 9.750. Freshman Elease Rollins, competing as an exhibitionist, scored a 9.900. As a team, BYU scored a 49.000 on the beam, widening the gap to 147.200-144.000.

The Cougars saved their best for last, scoring a season-high 49.425 on the floor routine. Sadie,  Abbey, and Evans each scored a 9.900. Sadie earned a career high, while Abbey and Evans earned season high scores. Sophomore Brittney Vitkauskas and Stainton both tied their career highs with scores of 9.875 and 9.850. The result gave BYU a total score of 196.625 to win the meet by 3.725.

In addition to the team win, Evans recorded the all-around win with a total score of 39.475, her first time competing in all four events this season. 

"Overall, I like exactly where we’re at," Young said. "We do see post-season and the NCAA tournament as something we want to go far in, and in order to do that we’ve got to have great days.”

Coming up, the Cougars remain at home to take on Boise State on Saturday, Feb. 15, at 7 p.m. MST at the Smith Fieldhouse. The meet will be BYU's second against the Broncos this season, as the Cougars defeated Boise State 196.100 to 194.450 on Jan. 31 in Boise. The meet will be broadcast live on BYUtv and on the BYUtv app. Tickets can be purchased on byutickets.com.  

PROVO, Utah – Winning back-to-back road meets, No. 16 BYU heads home for its first meet in the Smith Fieldhouse this season, hosting Sacramento State on Friday, Feb. 7, at 7 p.m. MST.

BYU vs Sacramento State Meet Notes

There is little history between the Cougars and Hornets. Back on March 5, 2004, the teams participated in a quad-meet, the Salbasgeon Suites Invitational in Corvallis, Ore. There, BYU earned a score of 197.150, placing second behind Oregon State. Meanwhile, Sacramento State tied for third with Michigan State (195.875.)

This will be the first time head coaches Guard Young and Randy Solorio will face.

Meet Information

• When: Friday, Feb. 7

• Time: 7 p.m. MST 

• Location: Smith Fieldhouse

• TV: BYUtv 

• Stats: StatBroadcast.com

THE COUGARS. On the road, BYU earned its two highest scores of the season, a 197.075 against Southern Utah and 196.100 against Boise State. Last Friday at the ExtraMile Arena in Boise, Idaho, the Cougars not only topped the current MRGC champion, Boise State, but junior Abbey Miner walked away with the all-around title for the fourth time this season. After 12 years of losing to the Broncos on their home turf, the Cougars now hold a two-year winning streak in Boise. 

THE HORNETS. Currently ranked No. 58, Sacramento State welcomed seven newcomers this season. On the season, the team’s highest score stands as a 192.675. Recently, on Friday, Jan. 31, the Hornets achieved their highest uneven bars score for 2020, a 48.475. Two of Sacramento State’s standout gymnasts earned MPSF honors in January. The MPSF honored Jordyn Brent as Gymnast of the Week and Taylor Weber as Freshman of the Week.