BATON ROUGE – After earning a pair of the highest team scores in the country already this season, the second-ranked LSU gymnastics team (2-0, 2-0 SEC) returns to the Maravich Center for its first non-conference meet of the season against Texas Woman’s at 7:30 p.m. CT Friday.
The meet will be streamed live on SECNetwork+ with first vault set for 7:31 p.m. Lynn Rollins, Lori Strong-Ballard and Kaleigh Dickson Abboud will have the call for the broadcast.
Tigers Look Forward to Returning Home
“Every time we step into the arena we are competing against the entire country,” junior Myia Hambrick said. “Although we aren’t competing against an SEC team, it is still important for us to go out there and hit our routines and continue our strong start.”
“We will look at our lineup and pick where we will give people rest and use people in different spots. What we don’t want to do is walk into the PMAC and not be at our best,” associate head coach Jay Clark said.
Meet Promotions
Friday is the annual Pink and Blue meet for breast and prostate cancer awareness. Fans are encouraged to wear pink and blue. Pink and blue t-shirts will be given away for ticket holders in the 100 level. There will also be pom poms for fans in the 100 and 200 levels. It will also be student point night. Students are encouraged to download the Geaux Rewards app to earn their points for attending the meet.
Arrive Early
Record crowds are anticipated for the meet. Fans are encouraged to arrive early and purchase tickets in advance online at LSUtix.net to avoid long lines. Many lots around the Maravich Center are free and open to the public, including 101, 104 and 105. North Stadium Drive will be closed to vehicular traffic beginning at 4 p.m. Lot 201 and 300 off of North stadium Drive will be reserved.
Geaux Clear
Fans are also reminded of LSU’s “Geaux Clear” policy that is in effect at all athletic venues. The policy allows for only clear tote bags smaller than 12” x 6” x 12” or one-gallon plastic freezer bags to be permitted. Bags must be clear and transparent and cannot be tinted, textured or patterned. For full details on the policy, please visit www.LSUSports.net/GeauxClear.
A Look at Texas Woman’s
The Pioneers are coming off a quad meet at No. 7 Denver last Saturday. TWU went 1-2 in the meet with a score of 192.125 with a win over Air Force and losses to Denver and Arizona State
TWU is led by Schyler Jones, the MIC Gymnast of the Week after the opening meet, and Bria Norththrop. Both gymnasts led the Pioneers in the all-around competition in the first two meets of the season.
Series Record Between LSU and TWU
LSU is 12-0 all-time against Texas Woman’s. The Tigers have won all five meetings with TWU inside the Maravich Center. Last season, the team competed at TWU in a tri-meet. The Tigers defeated Oregon State, New Hampshire and TWU to close out the 2016 regular season.
Home Win Streak Continues to Climb
LSU has gone undefeated at home for three-straight seasons. The Tigers are 22-0 in the Maravich Center since the start of the 2014 season. During that stretch, LSU has beaten No. 7 Alabama, No. 14 Auburn, No. 2 Florida, No. 9 Georgia, No. 16 Minnesota and No. 1 Oklahoma. The last loss in the Maravich Center came to Alabama in 2013.
Hambrick Earns SEC Gymnast of the Week Honors
For a second-straight week, junior Myia Hambrick earned SEC Gymnast of the Week honors. Hambrick shared the floor and all-around titles against the Crimson Tide. The weekly honor was Hambrick’s second of the season and fifth of her career.
Ashleigh “Bugs” Gnat – Lone Gymnast with a 10 in 2017
LSU’s Ashleigh Gnat, an 11-time All-American and the reigning SEC Specialist of the Year, is one of the top gymnasts in the country. Gnat is the only gymnast in the nation to score a perfect 10.0. The senior did it competing her double-twisting Yurchenko on the road against Alabama for the seventh perfect score of her career.
Fans can follow the Tigers on the team’s social media channels: @LSUgym on Instagram, Twitter and Snapchat, www.Facebook.com/lsugym and at YouTube.com/lsugymnastics.