FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — The 11th-ranked Tiger gymnastics team opened the SEC schedule with a win Friday night at Barnhill Arena, knocking off No. 22 Arkansas, 194.725-193.100.
LSU’s April Burkholder returned to her winning ways, taking home her second all-around title of the season with a 39.350. She also won titles on vault, beam and floor, while junior Lisa Rennie rounded out the Tigers’ individual honors, winning the beam.
“We had some great performances tonight but we are still suffering from some inconsistencies,” said LSU head coach D-D Breaux. “This was our target meet to have a breakthrough performance and unfortunately that didn’t happen.”
The Tigers did get off to a solid start on bars scoring a 48.775 to the Gym’Backs’ 48.700 on the vault. The mark, the second-highest for the Tigers on the event this season, was highlighted by a meet-best 9.850 by junior Lisa Rennie. Senior Kelly Lea was just off Rennie’s pace, posting a season-high 9.800, while Burkholder added a 9.775.
LSU built off their momentum from the bars in the second rotation, notching a season-best 49.175 behind five scores of 9.800 or better. Burkholder capped the rotation with a meet-winning 9.900. A trio of Tigers in Kelly Phelan, Nicki Butler and Lea each added scores of 9.825 on the event to land in a three-way tie for second, while Emily Ellis rounded out the scoring with a 9.800.
The Tigers’ effort extended their led to 1.175 over the Gym’Backs who recorded just a 48.075 on bars after having to count a fall towards the team score.
Moving to floor, Lea concluded an outstanding personal effort in the meet by notching a 9.675 to start the Tigers off. LSU then added a meet-best 9.850 by Burkholder and 9.800 by Phelan to help the Tigers to 48.600 on the event.
Arkansas was again forced to count a fall towards their team total in the third rotation, posting a 47.950 on the beam to extend LSU’s lead to 1.725.
With the meet fairly well in hand the Tigers faltered slightly on the beam in the final rotation. A pair of falls on the event led to 48.025. Burkholder highlighted the rotation with her meet-winning 9.825. Martinjak and Rennie added scores of 9.50 and 9.700, respectively.
Up next, the Tigers complete their two-meet road swing with a trip to Athens, Ga., to take on the top-ranked Georgia Gym Dogs on Sat., Feb. 4.
TEAM RESULTS
1. LSU — 194.725 (VT — 49.175, UB — 48.775, BB — 48.050, FX – 48.600)
2. Arkansas — 193.100 (VT — 48.700, UB — 48.075, BB — 47.950, FX — 48.375)
INDIVIDUAL RESULTS (Winner plus all LSU competitors)
All-Around — 1, April Burkholder, 39.350. 3, Kelly Phelan, 38.425. 4, Butler, 38.175.
Vault — 1, April Burkholder, 9.900. t2, Nicki Butler, Kelly Lea, Kelly Phelan, 9.825. t5, Emily Ellis, 9.800. 7, Terin Martinjak, 9.750.
Bars – 1, Lisa Rennie, 9.850. 2, Kelly Lea, 9.800. 3, April Burkholder, 9.775. 6, Nicki Butler, 9.700. 8, Kelly Phelan, 9.650. 9, Emily Ellis, 9.525.
Beam — 1, April Burkholder, 9.825. t2, Terin Martinjak, 9.750. t5, Lisa Rennie, 9.700. 8, Lauren Klein, 9.675. 9, Kelly Phelan, 9.150. 11, Nicki Butler, 9.000.
Floor — 1, April Burkholder, 9.850. t2, Kelly Phelan, 9.800. 5, Kelly Lea, 9.675. t7, Nicki Butler, Terin Martinjak, 9.650. 12, Lauren Klein, 8.950.