PROVO, Utah – No. 22 Utah State tied its fourth-best score in school history and had season-best totals on two events and overall team score in a 196.925-196.600 loss to No. 11 BYU on Friday night at the Smith Fieldhouse.
 
The Cougars (8-4, 7-1 Mountain Rim Gymnastics Conference) trailed the Aggies 147.500-147.325 heading to the fourth rotation, but scored a 49.600 on floor to record the comeback win.
 
For the first time this season and the first time since March 6, 2020, Utah State (1-8, 1-7 MRGC) recorded a 49 or better on each event. The Aggies had a season-high 49.175 on vault, which is tied for fourth all-time in school history. They had a 49.025 on bars, a 49.100 on beam and a season-best 49.300 on floor.
 
"We had an awesome meet," said fourth-year Utah State head coach Amy Smith. "We finally settled in and did the kind of gymnastics we have been seeing this team do in practice. The floor team did a great job tonight. The energy was there throughout the meet and it was just a great night."
 
Utah State senior Logan Varnadore captured the vault title with a personal-best 9.900, which is tied for eighth all-time in school history. Her twin sister, Leighton Varnadore, won the all-around with a 39.200.
 
"It was great to get back out there this week after having to deal with some of us being out last week due to COVID," said USU sophomore Rebecca Wells. "We just took it one routine at a time and tried to win each event. It was great to finally feel like we did our normal gymnastics."
 
The Aggies started on bars with their 49.025, while the Cougars opened with a 49.100 on vault. Freshman Brianna Brooks led the way for USU on the apparatus with a personal-best 9.875 to place second, while junior Grace Rojas and sophomore Maia Fishwick had matching 9.850s to tie for third.
 
In the second rotation, Logan Varnadore's 9.900 led the way on vault, while Rojas had a career-best 9.850 to take third.
 
BYU followed up its 49.100 on vault with a 49.075 on bars, and Utah State led 98.200-98.175 at the midway point of the meet.
 
In the third rotation, the Aggies shined on floor as Wells and freshman Eve Jackson both had career-best scores of 9.875 to tie for fourth.
 
Utah State closed the meet on beam, where it recorded a 49 or better on the event for the sixth-consecutive meet to extend the school record. Wells tied for second with a career-high-tying 9.875.
 
"What we did today is what we do every day in the gym," Wells said. "I was pumped tonight, because it was our highest score this season and I beat my PR on floor and matched it on beam and vault. I can't wait to get back in the gym to fine-tune some things for a big meet next weekend against Denver and SUU."
 
UP NEXT: Utah State remains on the road when the Aggies travel to Denver, Colo., to take on No. 10 Denver and No. 16 Southern Utah in a tri meet on Sunday, March 7, at 2 p.m.
 
Fans can follow the Aggie gymnastics program at twitter.com/USUGymnastics, on Facebook at Utah State Gymnastics, and on Instagram at USUGymnastics. Fans can also follow the USU athletic program at twitter.com/USUAthletics or on Facebook at UtahStateAthletics.
 
No. 22 Utah State at No. 11 BYU – Provo, Utah – Smith Fieldhouse – Feb. 26, 2021

Team Results: 1. BYU – 196.925 (Vault: 49.100, Bars: 49.075, Beam: 49.150, Floor: 49.600); 2. Utah State – 196.600 (Vault: 49.175, Bars: 49.025, Beam: 49.100, Floor: 49.300).
 
Vault: 1. Logan Varnadore – USU, 9.900; 2. Abbey Miner Alder – BYU, 9.875; 3. Grace Rojas – USU, 9.850; T4. Leighton Varnadore – USU, 9.825; T7. Rebecca Wells – USU, 9.800; T7. Autumn DeHarde – USU, 9.800; 12. Brianna Brooks – USU, 9.750.
 
Bars: 1. Anyssa Alvarado – BYU, 9.900; 2. Brianna Brooks – USU, 9.875; T3. Grace Rojas – USU, 9.850; T3. Maia Fishwick – USU, 9.850; T10. Jessica Gutierrez – USU, 9.725; T10. Leighton Varnadore – USU, 9.725; 12. Eve Jackson – USU, 9.675.
 
Beam: 1. Abby Stainton – BYU, 9.900; T2. Elease Rollins – BYU, 9.875; T2. Rebecca Wells – USU, 9.875; T4. Brianna Brooks – USU, 9.825; T7. Autumn DeHarde – USU, 9.800; T7. Taylor Dittmar – USU, 9.800; T7. Leighton Varnadore – USU, 9.800; 12. Carley Bayles – USU, 8.625.
 
Floor: 1. Abbey Miner Alder – BYU, 9.975; 2. Brittney Vitkauskas – BYU, 9.950; 3. Avery Bennett – BYU, 9.925; T4. Rebecca Wells – USU, 9.875; T4. Eve Jackson – USU, 9.875; T8. Leighton Varnadore – USU, 9.850; T8. Autumn DeHarde – USU, 9.850; T8. Jessica Gutierrez – USU, 9.850; 12. Ariel Toomey – USU, 9.825. 
 
All-Around: 1. Leighton Varnadore – USU, 39.200. 
 
-USU-