PROVO, Utah - The Southern Utah University gymnastics team headed up north Friday morning for a matinee meet with 3,000 screaming elementary school students and the No. 18 BYU Cougars. The team had strong showings on beam and vault, but ultimately could not outlast the Cougars, falling 195.750-194.475.
As the visiting team, the Thunderbirds started the morning on the uneven bars. Madison McBride opened with a 9.800, a new high for the season, and Becky Rozsa followed with a 9.775. Madison Howlett scored a 9.750 and Amber Heltemes posted a 9.700. Southern Utah finished bars with a team score of 48.000.
Moving on to vault, Autumn Jorgensen had the high score of the morning for the Thunderbirds with a 9.800. Madison McBride and Morgan Alfaro each scored a 9.775, a new career-high for Alfaro. Molly Jozwiakowski scored a 9.750 in her first vault as a Flippin' Bird and Megan McBride rounded out the scoring with a 9.725. The Thunderbirds finished the event with a team score of 48.825.
The Thunderbirds continued to look strong as they moved to floor. Jorgensen and Karen Gonzalez each posted a 9.850 and Mckenna Burnside matched her career-high from last week with a 9.825. Madison McBride scored a 9.700 and Madison Loomis rounded out the scoring with a 9.525 in her first routine since joining the T-Birds. The Flippin' Birds finished with a team score of 48.750.
The Flippin' Birds had their strongest showing of the night on beam where they scored a team score of 48.900. Jorgensen led the way with a 9.875 followed by a 9.800 from Mary Packham in her first routine in a SUU leotard. Alyssa LaDieu and Gonzalez each posted a 9.750 and Madison McBride rounded out the scoring with a 9.725.
Madison McBride scored a new career-high in the all-around with a combined score of 39.000.
Jorgensen was named Beam Event Champion with her 9.875 and she was also named Co-Vault Event Champion with BYU's Avery Bennett and Mackenzie Douglas as they all scored 9.800.
The Flippin' Birds will be back in action next Friday as they host the Boise State Broncos in their home meet of 2018.
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