BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — The 21st-ranked LSU gymnastics team put together a solid effort Friday night at the SEC Championships, but it wasn’t enough to take the crown from Georgia. A crowd of 7,456 packed the Bartow Arena in Birmingham, Ala. to witness the 21st-annual Southeastern Conference Gymnastics Championships.
LSU scored above their season-average in three-of-the-four events for a 196.300 total, just the third time all season the Tigers eclipsed the 196-mark and the first time away from Baton Rouge this season.
LSU head coach D-D Breaux knew that starting on beam would not only be a pressure situation for the Tigers, but would also provide good preparation for the NCAA Regionals. Her Tigers responded with a score of 49.050 to start the meet.
“It was to our advantage to hit well on our first event,” Breaux said. “It allowed us to relax. There was a lot of emotion and atmosphere here tonight.”
Both junior Beth Boudreaux and freshman Lindsay Beddow posted scores of 9.850 on the beam while Shanyn MacEachern added a season-high 9.725 in just her third beam performance this season.
The Tigers scored well on both the floor and the vault, but crucial mistakes cost the Tigers points.
Their respective scores of 49.025 and 48.875 were above the Tigers’ season averages, but the Georgia Gym Dogs set the SEC Championships record on the floor with a score of 49.625 topping their own record of 49.575 set in 1999.
Freshman Kristin Uransky finished in a tie for third in the vault with a score of 9.875.
As a team, the Tigers saved their best for last. In the uneven parallel bars, an event LSU has been scoring well in as of late, Nicki Arnstad (9.825), Brooke Cazeaux (9.900) and Beddow (9.850) all tied season-highs.
Senior Sharene Mamby also added a 9.900 score to give the Tigers a team-total 49.350. Mamby and Cazeaux finished in a tie for third on the bars.
“We knew ending on the bars would be an advantage for us,” Breaux said. “It was about as close to a perfect performance as we can give. Florida eliminated the little mistakes we made. Georgia and Alabama are just at a higher level than we are at this point.”
The 2001 SEC Championships will air on a tape-delay basis on April 1 at 3 p.m. ET on FOX Sports Net South. The Tigers will next look forward to the NCAA Regionals on April 7. For more information about the 2001 NCAA Regionals, check out www.LSUsports.net.
Vault Bars Beam Floor Totals
Georgia
49.475 49.500 49.400 49.625 198.000
Alabama
49.125 49.325 49.450 49.525 197.425
Florida
48.900 49.200 49.075 49.200 196.375
LSU
48.875 49.350 49.050 49.025 196.300
Kentucky
48.975 48.750 48.825 49.300 195.850
Auburn
48.425 48.450 48.825 48.800 194.500