BATON ROUGE — The 15th-ranked LSU gymnastics team returns to SEC action this week when it welcomes first-year team, Arkansas, to the Pete Maravich Assembly Center Friday. Competition is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. (CST).
LSU, 7-5 on the season and 1-3 in the SEC, looks for its first conference win since the SEC opener Jan. 17 at Kentucky, when the Tigers defeated the GymCats, 195.825-194.125.
The Tigers are coming off their best road performance of the year as they scored a 196.025 to finish third at the Master Classic in Lincoln, Neb., Sunday. LSU also recorded its highest beam score of the season, 49.225, behind a pair of near perfect 9.900s by freshman Megan Durning and junior Lindsay Beddow.
Arkansas enters the meet with a 5-6 overall record and a 1-4 slate in conference action. The Ladybacks fell to SEC foe Georgia, 197.225-194.225, in their last outing, however, posted a season-high 194.975 two weeks ago in a quad-meet featuring Auburn, Missouri and Centenary.
Individually, the GymBacks, comprised of 11 true freshmen, have been led by all-arounders Tiffany Berry and Hannah McLeod in their inaugural season.
Berry is averaging a 38.721 this season, while McLeod has averaged a 38.475.
Following LSU’s meet with Arkansas, the Tigers will host their final home meet of the 2003 season when they welcome No. 7 Georgia to the PMAC Friday, March 7.