Broncos Clipped by Cougars in MRGC Opener

Friday, January 20

Provo, Utah

7 p.m. MT

Boise State

BYU

1/20/2023 10:15:00 PM | Women's Gymnastics

PROVO, Utah – The Boise State gymnastics team was narrowly defeated by Mountain Rim Gymnastics Conference rival BYU, 195.475-195.300, Friday night at the Marriott Center.

For the second time in as many meets, junior Emily Lopez highlighted the leaderboard, earning the top scores on both vault (9.850) and beam (9.925).

Boise State's beam team was its top-performing squad for a second-straight meet. Lopez, sophomore Alyssa Vulaj (9.875), seniors Adriana Popp (9.825) and Erin Elkabchi (9.800) and sophomore Emma Loyim (9.800) combined for a score of 49.225.

Quotables

"Emily Lopez had another stellar night. She is such a calm and confident competitor. We continue to be amazed by her," said head coach Tina Bird.
"Alyssa Vulaj started us off on beam in attack mode. She did an amazing routine and the rest of the beam team followed her lead." -Bird.
"Courtney [Blackson] continues to be a force for us on bars, as does Elaina [McGovern] on floor." -Bird

Top Broncos

Junior Courtney Blackson earned the meet's second-highest score on bars (9.900).
Freshman Kylee Hamby registered a career-best 9.700 on bars.
Junior Emily Lopez and sophomore Alyssa Vulaj collected career-high scores on beam, recording a 9.925 and 9.875, respectively.
Senior Adriana Popp's vault performance earned her a career-high mark of 9.825.

Notables

Junior Emily Lopez was the individual champion on both vault and beam. It was her fourth-career win on vault and second on beam.
Sophomore Emma Loyim garnered her first-career all-around victory with a score of 37.750.
Boise State's 195.300 improved upon its season-opening score of 195.050 at the Wasatch Classic (Jan. 14).

What's Next – Boise State welcomes conference-foe Southern Utah to ExtraMile Arena for its home opener. The Broncos and the Thunderbirds will face off Friday, Jan. 27 at 7 p.m.