DENVER — The eighth-ranked LSU gymnastics team fell short in its bid for a third straight win on Saturday night, as 15th-ranked Denver edged the Tigers with a strong finish on floor in the final rotation, 196.050-195.825.
LSU led heading by a .425 margin heading into the final rotation, but the Tigers were forced to count a fall on beam and managed only 48.550, while Denver countered with a near flawless floor rotation, scoring a 49.200 to seal the deal.
Needing a 9.65 in the sixth and final spot on floor to secure the victory for the Pioneers, Michelle Kasuga came up with 9.85 to push Denver past the Tigers.
“We knew we had to hit on beam if we wanted to win and we came up just short,” said LSU head coach D-D Breaux. “Overall it was a great road effort for us, I’m pleased for the most part, that’s a very good score for us. If you want to win on the road against a top 15 team like this, however, you can’t make mistakes and we made one that cost us.”
One of Breaux’s primary goals for Saturday’s competition was for her team to get out of the blocks well and not dig itself in a hole as it had in each of the Tigers’ previous road meets. The Tigers responded to her challenge with strong outings on bars and vault to build a commanding lead after two rotations.
A week after tying the school record in the bars, LSU responded with another strong outing, posting a score of 49.225, the highest road score in the event for the Tigers this season.
Kristin Uransky and Sharene Mamby shared the individual title with Melanie Schiff of Denver, as each posted identical scores of 9.875. LSU counted five scores of 9.80 or better, as Lindsay Beddow led off with a 9.80, while Marina Degteva and Brooke Cazeaux added scores of 9.825 and 9.85 respectively.
Denver managed only a 48.600 on vault and the Tigers had the lead and the strong opening Breaux had hoped for.
As the Tigers moved to vault, Denver began to heat up on bars and posted a season-high 49.175. LSU matched the effort, however, matching its season-high in the event, also scoring 49.175. Marina Degteva won the individual title with a score of 9.90, while Shanyn MacEachern tied for second with 9.875.
LSU held a commanding 98.400-97.775 lead after two rotations.
The Pioneers battled back and put themselves in prime position to pull the upset with a 49.075 showing on beam, outscoring LSU during the third rotation, as the Tigers managed only a 48.875 on floor.
Lauren Companioni led the way for the Tigers on floor with a 9.875, while Rachel Franzella and Beth Boudreaux both added scores of 9.80.
With only a .425 lead heading into beam, Breaux knew that counting a fall would cost her team the meet.
Companioni opened up with a 9.85, but Jade Jenkins fell in the second spot putting the pressure on the Tigers. Lindsay Beddow and Beth Boudreaux followed with scores of 9.825, but a fall by Rebecca Lightsey, the nation’s ninth-ranked athlete on beam, gave the Tigers one fall too many.
LSU returns to action on Friday evening when the Tigers host No. 20 Iowa, the first of two consecutive home meets against ranked opponents. No. 23 Kentucky comes to the Maravich Assembly Center the following week.