TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – The LSU gymnastics team took a major blow Friday night as injuries to Ericka Garcia, Maliah Mathis and Sarie Morrison set the Tigers back in a 196.950-194.750 loss at second-ranked Alabama inside Coleman Coliseum.
Mathis suffered an abrasion to her cornea in one eye early Friday morning while Garcia tore her ACL at the end of her floor routine and Morrison injured her ankle on her vault landing.
“It was one of those nights where when you get lemons you have to make lemonade,” head coach D-D Breaux said. “This was a tough meet to fight through. It wasn’t what we needed, but we have to figure out what we can do now and push forward.”
Even with the injuries LSU (3-9, 0-6 Southeastern Conference) earned a season-high 49.275 on vault and also scored a 49.0 on floor.
Mathis fought through the eye injury to score a season high 9.90 on vault and a 9.875 on floor.
The Tigers did not open the meet like they wanted to with a 48.350 on bars as both Kaleigh Dickson and Sarie Morrison suffered uncharacteristic falls with a 9.30 and 9.225, respectively.
LSU counted scores of 9.85 from Samantha Engle, 9.75 from Ericka Garcia, 9.725’s from Shelby Prunty and Sarah Zoldos and Dickson’s 9.30.
Seeking to replace the 193.350 season-opening score, the Tigers posted a season-high 49.275 on vault, paced by 9.90’s from Morrison and Maliah Mathis. LSU also counted a 9.85 from Ashley Lee, a 9.825 from Dickson and a 9.80 from Zoldos.
LSU kept the momentum going in the third rotation with a 49.000 on floor. The Tigers were led by Mathis who earned a 9.875 and Engle who tallied a 9.85. LSU also counted Dickson’s 9.775, Prunty’s 9.75 and Lee’s 9.75.
With Garcia, Mathis and Morrison scratched from the beam lineup, the Tigers inserted Casey Duvall, Janelle Garcia and Zoldos into the open spots, but the team struggled to a 48.125 score.
Prunty led off beam with a 9.825, and Engle anchored with a 9.85. Competing on beam for the first time in her career, Zoldos earned a 9.80. Dickson scored a 9.65, but Duvall and Garcia suffered falls to earn an 8.90 and 9.00, respectively.
Alabama improved to 11-1 overall and 5-1 in SEC competition.
The 22nd ranked Tigers will compete at the SEC Championship on March 19. The meet is scheduled to begin at 4 p.m. CT inside Birmingham’s BJCC arena.
MEET RESULTS
Team
1. Alabama 196.950 (VT – 49.525, UB – 49.325, BB – 48.625, FX – 49.475)
2. LSU 194.750 (VT – 49.275, UB – 48.350, BB – 48.125, FX – 49.000)
Individual (Includes first place and all LSU competitors)
All-Around – 1. Sarah DeMeo (Alabama) 39.450; 3. Kaleigh Dickson 38.550
Vault – 1. Diandra Milliner (Alabama) 9.975; t3. Maliah Mathis 9.90; t3. Sarie Morrison 9.90; 7. Ashley Lee 9.85; t8. Kaleigh Dickson 9.825; t10. Sarah Zoldos 9.80; 12. Ericka Garcia 9.725
Bars – 1. Geralen Stack-Eaton (Alabama) 9.925; t3. Samantha Engle 9.85; 8. Ericka Garcia 9.75; t9. Shelby Prunty 9.725; t9. Sarah Zoldos 9.725; 11. Kaleigh Dickson 9.300; 12. Sarie Morrison 9.225
Beam – 1. Sarah DeMeo (Alabama) 9.95; t2. Samantha Engle 9.85; t4. Shelby Prunty 9.825; 6. Sarah Zoldos 9.80; 8. Kaleigh Dickson 9.65; 11. Janelle Garcia 9.00; 12. Casey Duvall 8.90
Floor – t1. Diandra Milliner (Alabama) 9.925; t1. Kayla Hoffman (Alabama) 9.925; t4. Maliah Mathis 9.875; t6. Samantha Engle 9.85; 8. Kaleigh Dickson 9.775; t9. Shelby Prunty 9.75; t9. Ashley Lee 9.75; 12. Ericka Garcia 9.70