TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — It was truly a special night in Tuscaloosa, Ala., as the 11th-ranked LSU gymnastics squad came away with a rare win in Alabama as the Tigers upset the fifth-ranked Crimson Tide, 196.625-195.750, and senior Ashleigh Clare-Kearney earned her 100th career individual title Friday night in Coleman Coliseum.
The victory marked LSU’s second in program history at Alabama and first under D-D Breaux, dating back to 1976 when the Tigers posted a win in Tuscaloosa. Breaux’s first season as head coach of the Tigers was 1977.
“We beat Alabama at Alabama. Nobody does that,” Breaux said. “We beat them from the first performer to the last performer. We were tight and our gymnastics was solid. We continued to come back and do a great job through the whole meet.”
LSU (8-2, 3-2 SEC) not only pulled off the historic victory, but the Tigers did it in dominant fashion ? leading Alabama through every rotation and closing strong with a 49.225 on beam to cement the win. For only the second time all season LSU scored a 49.0 or higher in all four events, while the Crimson Tide suffered its worst performance on beam with a 48.750. Coming into the meet Alabama led the nation on beam with a 49.245 average.
The Tigers lead through two rotations was slim as LSU was on top, 98.375-98.300, but the third rotation was when the Tigers pulled away. Alabama (3-3, 1-3) stumbled on beam while the Tigers tallied their second 49-point score of the season on floor.
Individually, Clare-Kearney earned three individual titles on the night as she tied for first on vault with a 9.90, took first on floor with a 9.950 and won the all-around with a 39.500. Clare-Kearney entered the meet with 97 individual titles and with the three event titles against the Crimson Tide, Clare-Kearney earned 100 career crowns.
“It really is an honor. Tonight we performed extremely well,” Clare-Kearney said. “We kept it together and competed hard. The fact we hadn’t beaten Alabama at their place shows the maturity of this team. The 100 career titles are an honor and are really exciting. It shows what kind of support system I have here at LSU. The coaches, managers and teammates have been behind me, and they helped me. I had the help of the entire LSU community to reach this goal.”
“Ashleigh’s performance and her accomplishments are incredible. Her 100 titles are amazing,” Breaux said.
After the huge upset LSU will head home for a tri-meet against North Carolina and Illinois-Chicago on Feb. 20 at 7 p.m. in the Pete Maravich Assembly Center.
MEET RESULTS
Team
1. LSU 196.625 (VT ? 49.250, UB ? 49.125, BB ? 49.225, FX ? 49.025)
2. Alabama 195.750 (VT ? 49.100, UB ? 49.200, BB ? 48.750, FX ? 48.700)
Individual (Includes first place and all LSU competitors)
All-Around ? 1. Ashleigh Clare-Kearney 39.500; 2. Susan Jackson 39.375
Vault ? t1. Ashleigh Clare-Kearney 9.90; t1. Morgan Dennis 9.90; t3. Staci Schwitkis 9.875; t5. Susan Jackson 9.825; t5. Kayla Rogers 9.825; t5. Gloria Johnson 9.825; 9. Ashley Lee 9.80
Bars ? 1. Kassi Price 9.875; t2. Susan Jackson 9.850; t2. Samantha Engle 9.850; t5. Staci Schwitkis 9.825; t5. Ashleigh Clare-Kearney 9.825; t10. Sabrina Franceschelli 9.775; t10. Summer Hubbard 9.775
Beam ? t1. Ricki Lebegern 9.875; t1. Summer Hubbard 9.875; t1. Susan Jackson 9.875; t4. Gloria Johnson 9.825; t4. Sabrina Franceschelli 9.825; t4. Ashleigh Clare-Kearney 9.825; 12. Samantha Engle 8.975
Floor ? 1. Ashleigh Clare-Kearney 9.95; 3. Susan Jackson 9.825; t4. Sabrina Franceschelli 9.775; t4. Gloria Johnson 9.775; 9. Summer Hubbard 9.700; 10. Kayla Rogers 9.675