LSU Gold

Gymnastics Beats Alabama; Undefeated in SEC

by Jake Terry (@LSUjake)
Gymnastics at Alabama - Highlights Printable Results +0
Gymnastics Beats Alabama; Undefeated in SEC

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – All night long the No. 2 LSU gymnastics team battled in a tight contest against No. 5 Alabama, and the Tigers put together a fantastic road performance to defeat the Crimson Tide, 197.350-197.225, Friday night in Coleman Coliseum.

With the win LSU moved to 10-1 overall and a perfect 7-0 Southeastern Conference record for the first time in program history.

Alabama was seeking its 50th straight home win, but the Tigers halted the streak behind solid routines throughout the meet. Before tonight the last time Alabama lost at home was Feb. 13, 2009 when LSU won 196.625-195.750. The Crimson Tide dropped to 6-2 overall and 4-2 versus the SEC.

LSU finished with a 49.375 on vault, 49.300 on bars, 49.200 on beam and 49.475 on floor to end with a 197.350.

“You have to learn how to win meets like this, and this team knows how,” LSU head coach D-D Breaux said. “They have been tested week after week, and each time they fight hard and find a way to win. This team dealt with adversity all week and throughout the meet, and I am proud of these Fighting Tigers for their effort and tenacity.”

Jessie Jordan captured the all-around title with a season-high tying 39.575, highlighted by a career-best 9.925 on floor and a clutch 9.90 in the anchor spot on beam. Jordan won the beam and floor titles.

Freshman Myia Hambrick earned her second vault title of the season with a career-high tying 9.925.

For the first time in her four seasons as a Tiger, Rheagan Courville was not in the all-around as she only competed on vault and bars. Courville had been struggling all week with flu-like symptoms and was limited in practice.

The Tigers rallied around her and each other to come away with another victory away from home, pushing the team’s record to 6-1 on the road this season.

LSU opened on bars with a 49.300 that ranks as the Tigers’ second-best bars total on the road this season. Ashleigh Gnat, Rheagan Courville and Jordan tied for the team lead with 9.875s, while Randii Wyrick added a 9.85 and Shae Zamardi tallied a 9.825 to round out the scoring.

After posting a 49.375 on vault LSU took the lead over Alabama, 98.675-98.600. Hambrick led the Tigers and won the event title with a career-high tying 9.925. Jessica Savona tied her career high with a 9.875, and Jordan also recorded a 9.875. Lloimincia Hall and Ashleigh Gnat wrapped up the scoring with matching 9.85s.

LSU increased the lead after three rotations to 0.325 at 148.150-147.825 when the Tigers posted a 49.475 on floor, the highest floor total on the road this season. Savona got things started with a season-high tying 9.90 in the leadoff spot, and the Tigers fed off the momentum. Ewing tallied a 9.85, and one gymnast later Jordan tied her career high with a 9.925 to win the title. Gnat and Hall put the finishing touches on a great rotation with 9.90s in the final spots on floor.

Alabama tried to rally in the fourth rotation with a 49.400 on floor, but LSU held fast with a 49.200 on beam to clinch the victory.

Breaux refers to Jordan as the “Ice Lady” because Jordan has “ice water in her veins” at the end of LSU’s beam lineup. Jordan lived up to that moniker tonight with a clutch 9.90 in the final beam routine of the meet to seal the Tigers win in front of 11,749 fans.

Hall and Gnat provided solid 9.85 beam routines, and Scarlett Williams stepped in for an ailing Courville to tally a season-best 9.825 in the fifth spot of the lineup. Ewing led off with a 9.775 to round out the Tigers’ scoring on beam.

LSU returns to the Maravich Center for the final time in the 2015 season when the Tigers host No. 14 Minnesota at 7:30 p.m. CT on March 6.

Tickets to the meet are available for purchase by logging on to www.LSUtix.net, by calling the LSU Ticket Office at 225-578-2184 or in person on the first floor of the Moran Family Center for Athletic Administration.

The meet will be Senior Night as the team will honor Courville, Hall, Jordan, Britney Ranzy and Williams.

MEET RESULTS

Team
1. #2 LSU 197.350 (VT – 49.375, UB – 49.300, BB – 49.200, FX – 49.475)
2. #5 Alabama 197.225 (VT – 49.375, UB – 49.225, BB – 49.225, FX – 49.400)

Individual (Includes first place and all LSU competitors)

All-Around – 1. Jessie Jordan 39.575, 2. Ashleigh Gnat 39.475

Vault – 1. Myia Hambrick 9.925, t4. Jessie Jordan 9.875, t4. Jessica Savona 9.875, t7. Ashleigh Gnat 9.85, t7. Lloimincia Hall 9.85, 11. Rheagan Courville 9.825
Bars – 1. Amanda Jetter (Alabama) 9.90, t2. Ashleigh Gnat 9.875, t2. Jessie Jordan 9.875, t2. Rheagan Courville 9.875, t5. Randii Wyrick 9.85, t7. Shae Zamardi 9.825, 11. Jessica Savona 9.70
Beam – 1. Jessie Jordan 9.90, t2. Ashleigh Gnat 9.85, t2. Lloimincia Hall 9.85, t8. Scarlett Williams 9.825, 11. Sydney Ewing 9.775, 12. Erin Macadaeg 9.75
Floor – 1. Jessie Jordan 9.925, t2. Ashleigh Gnat 9.90, t2. Lloimincia Hall 9.90, t2. Jessica Savona 9.90, t8. Sydney Ewing 9.85, 11. Randii Wyrick 9.775