TUSCON, Ariz. – BYU fell to No. 22 Arizona 196.775-195.800 in the McKale Center Saturday afternoon for the final Big 12 dual meet of the season.
The Cougars opened their matinee Big 12 showdown on the uneven bars. Freshman Mya Kirkham opened the rotation with a 9.825, followed by a 9.8 from Big 12 Gymnast of the Week Kylie Eaquinto. Two more 9.8’s from Alilah Alvarado and Anna Bramblett-Wilde closed out the lineup, giving BYU a 48.900. Arizona led by just .050 heading into the second rotation.
On vault, BYU’s Kirkham and Eaquinto led with a pair of 9.850’s. This score tied Kirkham’s career high on the apparatus. In freshman Chloee Hoke’s vault debut, she received a 9.775 to anchor the Cougs, earning an event total of 48.975.
With a strong bars rotation, the Wildcats pulled away after rotation two, leading 98.275-47.875.
The Cougars found their groove on floor in the third rotation, notching their highest event score of the day with a 49.075. Eliza Millar-Crossman opened with a 9.8, followed by Sophie Dudley’s third-consecutive floor score of 9.850. Heidi Schooley-Meyers notched a 9.825 and Eaquinto tallied her second 9.8 of the night. Brynlee Andersen earned a 9.8 for the Cougars to close out the rotation.
With Arizona’s 49.2 on beam, the Wildcats held their lead 147.475-146.950 heading into the final rotation of the day.
Dudley opened on beam with a 9.750 for the Cougars. Hoke earned a new career-high 9.850, followed by a 9.8 from senior Mina Margraf-Benson. Big 12 Event Specialist of the Week Andersen earned a 9.850 on the apparatus as BYU scored a 48.850 as a team. Arizona notched a 49.300 on floor to take the Big 12 win.
The Cougars are back on the road next week as they visit Cal on Friday, March 14 for a quad meet including Big 12 opponent ASU and Washington. The competition is set to start at 7 p.m. MT and will be streamed on ESPN+.