SACRAMENTO, California — The Flippin' Birds took on a tough Sacramento State team in California Friday night. Southern Utah came away with a 196.100-193.575 win. The victory brings the T-Birds record to 10-4 on the season with a 3-0 record against conference opponents.
Sophomore Niya Randolph delivered a stellar all-around performance, claiming first place with a 39.350 total, highlighted by a 9.900 on uneven bars and a 9.875 on floor. Ellie Cacciola also played a key role, winning vault (9.875) and beam (9.850), while Mia Hampton consistently placed near the top, including a tie for second on vault (9.825) and third on floor (9.825). Maria Ferguson impressed on bars (9.850) and beam (9.800), adding to the team win.
Head Coach Scotty Bauman Said
"I'm so proud of our team tonight. They brought energy and confidence to every event. Niya had a phenomenal night. Cacciola, Mia, Ferguson, and Rylee all went off tonight as well. This was a true team effort, and we'll keep building on this momentum."
Meet Recap
Bars (49.025)
Southern Utah began the meet on bars with a slightly different lineup. Christensen led off with a 9.750, establishing a steady rhythm. Senior Isabella Neff came next providing a 9.725, while Freshman Mia Hampton executed a graceful routine for a 9.800. Sophomore Niya Randolph followed with a stellar routine, turning up the crowd with a 9.900. Sophomore Maria Ferguson added a solid 9.850 and sophomore Alex Routsis wrapped it up with a 9.700.
Vault (48.975)
Moving to vault for their second rotation, senior Ellie Cacciola set the tone by putting up a 9.875 vault. Sophomore Mackenzie Kelly followed with a sharp 9.750, while freshman Mia Hampton added a solid 9.850. Sophomore Niya Randolph contributed a 9.800, and sophomore Brinlee Christensen was next in the lineup with a 9.700. Senior Taylor Gull finished the rotation by competing vault for the first time this season, earning a 9.675. The team sat at a 98.00 following the second rotation.
Floor (49.150)
The Flippin' Birds took to the floor for their third rotation, holding nearly a two point lead over the Hornets. Hampton sparked the momentum with an energetic 9.825. Sophomore Alyssa Fernandez followed with a solid 9.775 to match her season-high, while Christensen added a 9.800. Randolph brought excitement with a vibrant team high of 9.875. Cacciola continued the strong showing for the floor squad with a dynamic 9.85. Senior Taylor Gull delivered a radiant 9.800 in the anchor spot. The T-Birds headed to the final rotation with a 146.500 overall.
Beam (48.900)
The Thunderbirds continued to the beam for their final event. Randolph opened with a composed 9.775, setting a steady foundation. Christensen was next with a 9.700 while sophomore Elliot Bringhurst secured a 9.475 with her routine. Cacciola delivered a determined performance, scoring 9.850. Sophomore Rylee Miller earned a solid 9.825, before sophomore Maria Ferguson closed out the event with a 9.750, giving the T-Birds a 196.050 final score.
Next Up
The Thunderbirds will now make the short trip to Davis, California, to take on the Aggies on Sunday, March 2, at 3:00 p.m. MT. The meet will be available to watch on overnght.com, and live stat links can be found on the schedule page.
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