📡 No. 9 Alabama Gymnastics Falls at No. 1 LSU, 197.450-196.725

[UA Press Release]

BATON ROUGE, La. – After opening its home and Southeastern Conference schedule last week with a win over Georgia, the No. 9 Alabama gymnastics team is back on the road, facing off against No. 1 LSU in Baton Rouge, La., on Friday at 7:30 p.m.

The meet will air live on the SEC Network, with Bart Conner, Kathy Johnson Clarke and Laura Rutledge calling the action. It can also be streamed live on WatchESPN.com and via the WatchESPN app.

Friday will mark the second regular-season meeting in a row that Alabama has faced off a top-ranked LSU squad. The Crimson Tide actually opened last season with back-to-back meets against No. 1, starting with eventual NCAA champions Oklahoma in Norman, and then the Tigers in Tuscaloosa.

"No matter who we're competing against, we're going to continue to work on the things that are going to make Alabama gymnastics the best it can be," UA head coach Dana Duckworth said. "We're going to continue to work on our depth and on our poise."

The LSU meet will be Alabama's second road contest and SEC meet of the season and third meet overall. The Tigers will be competing in their second home meet, third SEC meet and third meet overall.

Alabama is led by two-time SEC Specialist of the Week Kiana Winston, who opened her senior season with five individual titles in six routines. All five of those winning routines earned scores of 9.9 or better. Fellow senior Nickie Guerrero has been off to an equally strong start on the vault, winning back-to-back individual titles to start the year, with both scoring 9.9.

Following the LSU Meet, Alabama returns home for back-to-back Fridays in Coleman Coliseum. Tickets for UA home meets are available through the Alabama Ticket Office (205.348.2262) located in the lobby of Coleman Coliseum and online at RollTide.com.

No. 9 Alabama Gymnastics Travels to No. 1 LSU for Friday Showdown - Alabama Athletics

 

[BamaFan334]

Better come with our A Game. Last weekend we were sloppy and just beat a not so talented Georgia team. Gotta stick those landings and freaking not fall a part on the beam.

 

[rick4bama]

 

[BamaFan334]

I feel like the bars really did us in tonight. Brilliant on the beam for the first time for as long as I can remember. Tough to beat #1 at home when they drop a 9.90 on the floor exercise as their lowest score.

 

[bamachine]

I feel like the bars really did us in tonight. Brilliant on the beam for the first time for as long as I can remember. Tough to beat #1 at home when they drop a 9.90 on the floor exercise as their lowest score.

Watched the end and the last LSU gymnast stepped OOB when lining up for her final tumbling run. They failed to deduct for it or even mention it on the broadcast.

 

[UA Press Release]

The Crimson Tide closed with a meet-best 49.350 on the balance beam, capped by Nickie Guerrero’s 9.95

BATON ROUGE, La. – The No. 9 Alabama gymnastics team fell to No. 1 LSU in front of a raucous Pete Maravich Assembly Center record crowd of 13,729 Friday night, 197.450-196.725. It was a season-best score for both teams.

Alabama closed with its best rotation of the night, going 49.350 on the balance beam behind a career-best 9.875 from sophomore Peyton Ernst in the leadoff spot and a 9.950 from senior Nickie Guerrero. Senior Kiana Winston also scored a 9.875 on the beam.

"We finished the meet strong on balance beam, which in this environment is really saying something," UA head coach Dana Duckworth said.

"We had great team spirit throughout the night, even when we had adversity. I think we did a great job of not getting tentative following a mistake."

The Tide started off with a 49.150 on the uneven bars paced by a 9.85 leadoff by sophomore Wynter Childers, and matching 9.875s from Winston and senior Mackenzie Brannan in the final two spots. On the vault, junior Abby Armbrecht and sophomore Shea Mahoney both scored 9.825s to push the Tide to a 49.025.

Alabama scored a 49.200 on the floor exercise led by a season-best 9.925 from Winston and 9.875s from Armbrecht and Guerrero. It was a career-best mark for Armbrecht.

"Overall, there were a lot of great performances, but we are just starting to scratch the surface when it comes to our potential," Duckworth said.

Alabama returns home for back-to-back Fridays in Coleman Coliseum, taking on Missouri (Jan. 26) and Arkansas (Feb. 2). Both meets start at 7:30 p.m. Tickets for UA home meets are available through the Alabama Ticket Office (205.348.2262) located in the lobby of Coleman Coliseum and online at RollTide.com.

No. 9 Alabama Gymnastics Falls at No. 1 LSU, 197.450-196.725 - Alabama Athletics

 

[OldPlayer]

LSU stuck their landings all night in each event. IMO, that was the key difference.

 

[sean]

LSU stuck their landings all night in each event. IMO, that was the key difference.

that right there can make the difference in winning and not. you can have a flawless routine, miss that landing, and it'll all go away.

but i believe they'll get better. they're too good not to.