Broncos Record Season-High Score in Home Opener

Friday, January 27

Boise. Idaho

7 p.m. MT

Boise State

Southern Utah

1/27/2023 11:25:00 PM | Women's Gymnastics

BOISE, Idaho – The Boise State gymnastics team earned its highest score of the season against Southern Utah in front of 1,675 fans at ExtraMile Arena, Friday night.

The Broncos tallied 195.700 points but were edged out by Mountain Rim Gymnastics-foe and the 21st-ranked Thunderbirds (196.275).

For the third time in as many meets, Boise State earned its highest score on beam, securing a season-high 49.300. The quintet of scorers all posted a 9.800 or better, including a pair of 9.925 from sophomore Emma Loyim and senior Adriana Popp. Loyim's performance was a career-best, while Popp's tied her career-high mark.

The Broncos' bar team also put on a season-best performance, cracking the 49.000 mark for the first time this season (49.175). Junior duo Courtney Blackson and Emily Lopez accounted for a pair of 9.925, while freshman Kylee Hamby (9.850) and sophomore Elaina McGovern (9.675) captured career-high scores. Junior Talia Little's 9.800 was a season-best.

Quotables

"What an amazing crowd! Thank you, Bronco Nation!" -head coach Tina Bird
"Yet another stellar performance from our beam team. They are unstoppable and I am so proud of that group." -Bird
"Again, Emily Lopez had an amazing night. Courtney Blackson's bar routine is so exciting, the whole team can't wait for her to perform every meet. Elaina McGovern is such a staple for us on the floor. I love watching her perform, and [Adriana] Popp executed a solid beam routine for us tonight." -Bird

Top Broncos

Junior Talia Little's 9.825 on beam marked a season-best.
Junior Emily Lopez recorded a 9.850 on vault for the third-straight meet.
Sophomore Alyssa Vulaj posted a season-best 9.825 on vault.
Vulaj captured a career-high 9.825 to open the scoring on floor.

Notables

Boise State's 49.300 on beam was the highest score among both teams on any apparatus.
Junior Emily Lopez was the individual champion on vault.
Junior Courtney Blackson and Lopez shared the bars title, scoring 9.925.
On beam, sophomore Emma Loyim and senior Adriana Popp both earned 9.925, topping the leaderboard.
Redshirt sophomore Dani Nakayama made her Boise State debut, competing on vault (9.700) and bars (8.975).

What's Next - The Broncos host their second meet of the season, Friday, Feb. 3 against Utah State. The conference opponents are scheduled to begin the competition at 7 p.m.