In one its more impressive outings of the year, No. 8 LSU posted season highs on the beam and the vault to defeat No. 21 Iowa, 196.725-194.825, in front of a crowd of 1,642 at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center.
“I think we did really well,” said LSU head coach D-D Breaux. “We had a let down on the bars, but I think that was due to the fact that we only trained one day this week. We felt it was important to rest this week. It was great to get Nicki (Arnstad) back, but we took a little off of her and the girls that filled in did an excellent job.”
The Lady Tigers swept all four of the individual titles on Friday. The Tigers posted season high scores of 49.225 on the beam and 49.200 on the vault. All-American Shanyn MacEachern posted another impressive score on the vault with a 9.90 and won the individual title. Marina Degteva took the individual title in the bars with a score of 9.900. Freshmen Lauren Companioni won the floor title with a score of 9.925 matching her season high that she scored against Alabama. Five Lady Tigers tied for the beam individual title.
Beth Boudreaux posted scores of 9.875, 9.825 and 9.900 in her three events, respectively.
Friday’s meet marked the sixth consecutive dual meet against a ranked team for LSU. With the win, LSU remained undefeated at home.
The Tigers took control of the meet early as LSU scored a season-high 49.200 on the vault. Iowa scored a 48.375 on the bars and LSU led after one rotation.
In the bars competition, Marina Degteva posted a score of 9.90 and LSU totaled a score of 48.850 in the event. Iowa’s Stephanie Gran scored a 9.850 on the vault to lead her team. The Gymhawks scored a 48.750 on the vault.
LSU led Iowa 98.050 to 97.125 after two rotations.
LSU posted another season high with a 49.375 on the beam. Consistency was the theme for the Lady Tigers as each of the five gymnasts scored a 9.875 on the beam. Meanwhile, Iowa scored a 49.225 on the floor exercise. Alexis Maday’s 9.925 highlighted the event for Iowa. The Lady Tigers led 147.425 to 146.350 after three rotations.
In the final rotation LSU scored a 49.300 on the floor. Iowa posted a 48.475 on the beam. Boudreaux’s 9.900 on the floor was the highest score for the Tigers.
The eighth-ranked LSU gymnastics team will next be in action on Friday, March 1, as the Tigers host the Kentucky Lady Cats at 7 p.m. in the Pete Maravich Assembly Center.