BATON ROUGE — No. 4 LSU gymnastics returns to the conference slate Friday when it hosts No. 13 Arkansas in the Pete Maravich Assembly Center at 7 p.m.
The Tigers (3-3, 1-1 SEC) have posted two of the top 15 scores in school history in their last two outings, turning in a 197.050 at Alabama two weeks ago before dominating No. 15 Michigan State with a season-high and SEC-leading 197.250 last Friday.
“Our focus is going to be on guarding our consistency while maintaining a high level of difficulty,” said LSU head coach D-D Breaux. “If we can continue the pace we are on I feel like we are building towards a great postseason.”
LSU will look to junior April Burkholder to help the Tigers continue their early season success. Burkholder cracked this week’s national all-around rankings at No. 23 after winning two straight overall titles with scores of 39.500 or higher. The four-time All-American from Houston currently owns the top beam and all-around scores in the SEC, having posted season-highs of 9.975 and 39.575, respectively.
Arkansas enters the meet with a 3-1 overall record, including a 2-1 mark in SEC action. The Gym’Backs are coming off their first loss of the season, narrowly falling to SEC foe Georgia, 195.300-195.150, last Friday in Fayetteville. Arkansas’ 195.150 against the Gym Dogs marked a season best. The team is averaging a 194.650 over four meets this year.
“Arkansas is a good team that has had a lot of close meets at home,” said Breaux. “I feel like the bull’s eye is on us. Everyone who comes in here is trying to take our spot.”
It will be a challenge for Arkansas as LSU owns a perfect 4-0 all-time record against the Gym’Backs, a team that is in just its third season of existence. LSU and UA met twice during the 2004 season, with the Tigers coming out on top, 196.775-196.450, in Fayetteville and, 197.275-194.825, at the SEC Championships in Duluth, Ga.
Following the Arkansas meet, LSU will close out its three-meet home stand against No. 7 Georgia Fri., Feb. 11, at 7 p.m. in the Pete Maravich Assembly Center.
Tickets for all of the Tigers’ home meets can be purchased in person at the LSU Ticket Office, over the phone at 1-800-960-8587 or on the internet at www.LSUsports.net. Tickets are $5 for adults and $3 for children ages 3-12.