LOGAN, Utah - The Southern Utah gymnastics team scored their second-highest score, and highest road score, of the season Friday night as they beat Utah State 196.350-195.275.
"This was our best meet of the year. We put everything together tonight and they looked fantastic," head coach Scotty Bauman said. "Even our exhibition kids looked awesome. It was good to see some different girls go in there and really do a good job. I'm so proud of them."
Freshman Karley McClain had a career night as she scored a 39.450 in the all-around. The combined score places her sixth all-time in program history and earned her her third all-around event title in her young career. She was also named vault and beam event champion after scoring a 9.850 on vault and a 9.900 on beam.
"Karley went in there tonight with some serious intent. She had a look in her eyes that she was ready to get going. And that is still just the tip of the iceberg for that one," Bauman said.
The Thunderbirds scored a new season-high on the floor exercise, finishing with a team score of 49.200. McClain and Karen Gonzalez both led the way for Southern Utah on the event with 9.875's. Molly Jozwiakowski was right behind them, earning a 9.850, and Caitlin Kho and Madison McBride rounded out the scoring with a 9.800 each.
Over on beam, the Flippin' Birds scored a 49.125, improving on their score from a week ago by almost a full point. McClain had the top score with a 9.900 and Shylen Murakami followed with a 9.850. Hannah Nipp scored a 9.825 and Alyssa LaDieu earned a 9.800. Gonzalez and Autumn Jorgensen rounded out the scoring with a 9.750.
"Our beam team looked incredible and I was really impressed with them. We have been in that situation before and didn't do well, but I really liked what I saw out there tonight and they answered a lot of questions in their own minds too," Bauman said.
The Thunderbirds also broke the 49.000 mark on bars where they scored a 49.050. Stephanie Tervort scored a career-high 9.875 to lead the way on the event and earn herself the title of bars event champion. Kho and McClain scored a 9.825 each and Murakami earned a 9.775. Gonzalez rounded out the scoring with a 9.750.
McClain led the way once again over on vault, scoring a 9.850. Morgan Alfaro and Madison McBride both earned a 9.800. This was McBride's first vault of the season. Tervort scored a 9.775 and Kho scored a 9.750.
The Flippin' Birds will continue their road stretch Sunday at No. 19 Washington.
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