BYU tops MRGC Champion Boise State, 196.100-194.450

BOISE, Idaho – The No. 15 BYU Cougars earned their second-highest score of the season (196.100) in a major win over five-time MRGC champions, Boise State (194.450).

BYU vs. Boise State Final Results

This is the first of two meets scheduled against the Broncos. Last year, the Cougars topped BSU on its home turf, earning a 197.000-196.325 victory for their first win in Boise since 2007. BYU made it two straight in ExtraMile Area with the win on Friday night. 

“I’m super proud of every girl who went out there,” head coach Guard Young said. “Their heads were down and focused. The judging was judging. I feel like it was a purely judged meet. If you gave a deduction, they took it. I’d like our girls to see film and compare the notes from the judges.”

In the first rotation of the night, BYU took on the uneven bars. Junior Haley Pitou led the pack for the Cougars, earning a career-high score of 9.900, beating her former 9.850. Freshman Anyssa Alvarado earned a 9.825, tying her career best that she set last week at SUU. Additionally, junior Helody Cyrenne achieved a season high of 9.800. While the Cougars earned their lowest bars score of the season, a 49.025, they still held a .250 lead over the Broncos heading into the second rotation. 

Sophomore Jordan Danbury Matthews started the second rotation with a strong vault, tying her career high of 9.850. Next up, Pitou performed strong in her second event of the night, earning a new season-high 9.825. Aside from sophomore Sadie Miner’s 9.850, the three remaining gymnasts all earned a solid 9.800. Earning a 49.125 overall and the team’s second-highest vault score of the season, BYU continued to widen the gap, leading by .425.

In the third rotation, the Cougars landed all their floor routines, with junior Abbey Miner earning the team’s highest score of 9.850. The absence of no season or career highs led to BYU’s lowest floor score of the season, a 49.025. However, a spill on beam by Boise’s Gabriella Bouza gave BYU an even greater advantage of 0.925 going into the final rotation.

The Cougars ended the night on beam with another career high. Sadie beat her former personal best of 9.825 with a 9.850. Her sister, Abbey, had the second-highest score of 9.825. Even with a fall by Cyrenne, the beam team pulled a 48.925 to achieve a total of 196.100 to win by 1.650 points.

On top of the win, Abbey took home her fourth all-around win of the season with a 39.100.

“Abbey Miner has been a workhorse these last four weeks,” Young said. “Maybe, we will pull back a bit for load management and give her a rest week.”

To see the rivalry continue, the Cougars and Broncos will face again on Saturday, Feb. 15 in the Smith Fieldhouse. 

Coming up, BYU heads home to prepare for its upcoming meet against Sacramento State on Friday, Feb. 7, at 7 p.m. MST.