BATON ROUGE – No. 2 LSU (11-1, 6-0 SEC) and No. 3 Florida (7-1, 5-1 SEC) will square off in one of the most anticipated regular season meets in school history with the chance for the Tigers to claim the first ever Southeastern Conference regular season championship at 2:30 p.m. CT Sunday inside the Maravich Center.
With more than 12,000 fans expected for the matchup, fans are encouraged to arrive to the PMAC early to watch warmups and be in their seats by 2:10 p.m. when lights go out. There will be a block party outside of the PMAC on the south side facing Tiger Stadium with a DJ, Kona Ice and face painting beginning at 12:30 p.m.
The nation will also have its sight set on Baton Rouge. The meet will be live on the SEC Network with Bart Conner, Kathy Johnson Clarke and Laura Rutledge on the call. First vault is set for 2:35 p.m. CT.
DD Previews SEC Matchup
“Anytime we face off against a conference foe it’s a big deal,” head coach D-D Breaux said. “This one carries the same amount of importance as the last six. It’s another step in the journey to the national championships. Sunday will be a great atmosphere and we cannot wait to get back in the PMAC.”
Last Time Out – At Auburn
LSU claimed at least a share of the SEC Championship with the victory over Auburn Friday night. This season marks the first that the league has recognized the regular season champion. The team score of 197.675 extended LSU’s streak to 17 consecutive meets with a 197 or better.
Myia Hambrick captured the all-around title and senior Sydney Ewing shined with a career high 9.925 on beam and a pair of 9.90s on vault and floor. Senior Ashleigh Gnat surpassed 50 individual titles for her career with wins on vault and floor. Sophomores Lexie Priessman and Sarah Finnegan also captured event titles on bars and beam respectively.
Meet Promotions
There will be a block party on the south pad of the PMAC for fans to enjoy a DJ, Kona Ice and face painting. Sunday is also the Gold Meet and all fans are asked to help Geauxld Out the PMAC. The first 1,000 fans to walk through the doors will also receive a free aluminum LSU gymnastics cup.
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. 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.
Series Record Between Teams
LSU trails Florida, 34-69, in the all-time series. In 25 meetings at home, the Tigers lead the series, 15-10. LSU has won the last two regular-season meetings against Florida. Last season, the Tigers went on the road to defeat the second-ranked Gators with a team score of 197.900. It marked the first loss at home for UF since the 2010 NCAA Super Six. Two seasons ago the teams dueled in a 2 vs. 3 matchup with the third-ranked Tigers coming out on top with a team score of 197.950.
A Look at the Opponent
The third-ranked Florida Gators are coming off of a 197.900-196.750 victory over Missouri last week at home. The Gators have totaled a score of 197 or better in every meet this season, including a 197.975 at home against Georgia. So far this season, UF is 3-1 on the road with a 197.425 in a loss at Alabama the highest road score. As a team, Florida ranks second on vault, bars and floor as well as third on beam in the league.
Home Win Streak Continues to Climb
LSU looks to extend win streak at home. The Tigers are 26-0 over the last three and a half seasons inside the Maravich Center. 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.
Tigers in the National Rankings
LSU owns the No. 2 spot in the second edition of the Regional Qualifying Score (RQS). The vault team moved up to No. 1 in the nation. On beam and floor, the Tigers rank No. 2 and the beam team ranks No. 3.
Individual Rankings: Hambrick: 19th AA, 20th VT, 22nd UB, 22nd BB; Gnat: 1st VT, 2nd FX, 11th BB; Kennedi Edney: 9th VT, 13th UB; Ewing: 17th VT, 24th BB; Finnegan: 2nd BB; Priessman: 8th UB, 25th VT; Shae Zamardi: 20th FX; McKenna Kelley: 17th FX
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.