GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Susan Jackson of the 13th-ranked LSU gymnastics team captured her fourth-straight all-around title and the ninth of her career with a 39.525 performance against No. 4 Florida Friday at the Stephen C. O’Connell Center.
Florida defeated LSU, 196.725-195.050, in front of 9,198 fans, the Gators’ third-largest crowd in school history. The meet also marked LSU’s first road dual meet of the season.
“We have much better performances than what we saw tonight,” LSU head coach D-D Breaux said. “We were lacking confidence to push through and be aggressive, and that doesn’t lend itself to building momentum. We have the next half of our season coming up, and adding someone to the lineup will help.”
LSU (3-3, 1-2 SEC) opened the meet with a 48.675 on bars, led by Jackson’s 9.875 and Summer Hubbard‘s 9.80.
Competing for the first time in the lineup on bars, freshman Janelle Garcia posted a 9.70, the third-highest score in the event for the Tigers. Shelby Prunty added a 9.675 and Sabrina Franceschelli scored a 9.625.
Florida (3-1, 3-0) opened up with a 49.225 on vault with freshman Ashanée Dickerson’s 9.925 pacing the Gators.
LSU scored a 49.000 on vault in the second rotation with Jackson claiming her 10th career vault title with a 9.95, while Gloria Johnson and Ashley Lee added 9.80 scores to boost the team total. Franceschelli tallied a 9.775, and Kayla Rogers provided a 9.675 score.
After two events Florida led LSU, 98.500-97.675, as the Gators received strong performances from Alicia Goodwin who won the bars title with a 9.925 and Amanda Castillo who scored a 9.875.
In the third event on floor LSU posted a 48.700 with high scores from Jackson and Samantha Engle who scored a 9.875 and a 9.825, respectively. Rogers and Franceschelli contributed 9.725’s to the team score.
Florida managed a 48.950 on beam, led by Dickerson’s 9.90 and Liz Green’s 9.825 to increase the Gators’ lead to 147.450-146.375.
In the fourth rotation, freshman Shelby Prunty recorded a career-high 9.75 on beam to open the event for the Tigers. Jackson earned the high score of the event for LSU and tied for the title with a 9.825. Engle scored a season-best 9.775, Johnson posted a 9.675 and Hubbard earned a 9.65.
Florida produced a 49.400 on floor to cap the meet as Dickerson and Maranda Smith tied for the title with a 9.925.
Jackson, the nation’s No. 1 all-arounder, captured the all-around, vault and beam titles to increase her number of career individual titles to 44.
“She deserved to win the all-around because she was the best athlete in the gym,” Breaux said. “She should compete for the all-around title each and every week.”
LSU returns to Baton Rouge for a home tilt with No. 1 Alabama Feb. 5 at 7 p.m. in the Maravich Center.
MEET RESULTS
Team
1. Florida 196.725 (VT – 49.225, UB – 49.275, BB – 48.825, FX – 49.400)
2. LSU 195.050 (VT – 49.000, UB – 48.675, BB – 48.675, FX – 48.700)
Individual (Includes first place and all LSU competitors)
All-Around – 1. Susan Jackson 39.525; 4. Sabrina Franceschelli 38.700; 5. Summer Hubbard 38.150
Vault – 1. Susan Jackson 9.95; t5. Ashley Lee 9.80; t5. Gloria Johnson 9.80; t7. Sabrina Franceschelli 9.775; 11. Kayla Rogers 9.675; 12. Summer Hubbard 9.175
Bars – 1. Alicia Goodwin 9.925; t2. Susan Jackson 9.875; t6. Summer Hubbard 9.80; 9. Janelle Garcia 9.70; 10. Shelby Prunty 9.675; 11. Sabrina Franceschelli 9.625; 12. Kayla Rogers 9.475
Beam – t1. Susan Jackson 9.825; t1. Liz Green 9.825; t3. Samantha Engle 9.775; 6. Shelby Prunty 9.75; 9. Gloria Johnson 9.675; 10. Summer Hubbard 9.650; 11. Sabrina Franceschelli 9.575
Floor – t1. Maranda Smith 9.925; t1. Ashanée Dickerson 9.925; 4. Susan Jackson 9.875; 6. Samantha Engle 9.825; t8. Kayla Rogers 9.725; t8. Sabrina Franceschelli 9.725; 11. Ashley Lee 9.550; 12. Summer Hubbard 9.525