LSU Gold

Gym Returns Home for Top-10 Meeting with Georgia

by Brandon Berrio
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Gym Returns Home for Top-10 Meeting with Georgia

BATON ROUGE – The fourth-ranked LSU gymnastics team (8-3, 3-3 SEC) returns home to face another top-10 team on Friday against No. 7 Georgia (5-3, 3-2 SEC) to open Mardi Gras weekend inside the Maravich Center.

The Tigers and Bulldogs will meet in a nationally-televised meet on ESPN2. Bart Conner and Kathy Johnson Clarke will have the call. Introductions for the meet will begin at 7:40 p.m. with first vault set for 8:05 p.m.

Breaux Previews Final SEC Meet 
“We are really excited to get back into the PMAC after a really tough stretch over the last eight days,” head coach D-D Breaux said. “I’m happy with our team has responded over the last week and the performances of everyone. The girls are ready to compete against another strong team. It is going to be a good, competitive meet tomorrow night.”

Finnegan One of Nation’s Best All-Around Performers
Senior Sarah Finnegan, LSU’s nominee for the AAI Award, is one of the top gymnasts in the nation. Finnegan has been dominant in the all-around with wins in eight of nine meets. Finnegan has defeated some of the top-all-around gymnasts in the country this year with wins against No. 2 Trinity Thomas of Florida, No. 4 MyKayla Skinner and No. 7 Makenna Merrell-Giles of Utah and No. 10 Derrian Gobourne of Auburn.

The Lee’s Summit, Missouri, native is one of two gymnasts in the nation to score a 9.95 or higher on all four events and just the ninth in school history. Finnegan is ranked in all four events and the all-around. She is third in the all-around, fourth on bars and floor, sixth on beam and 17th on vault.

Priessman Back for the Tigers
Senior Lexie Priessman is expected to be back in at least the bars lineup after missing the last three meets for the Tigers. An All-American and SEC champion on the event, Priessman owned the fifth spot of the lineup and scored a 9.9 or higher in three of six meets before being sidelined with an injury.

Series History
LSU is 35-71-2 overall against Georgia. The Tigers own a record of 8-12-1 against the Bulldogs in Baton Rouge. The Tigers are on an 11-meet win streak against UGA, a streak that dates back to the 2016 season. LSU has won the last three meetings in Baton Rouge. In 2017, the Tigers put up the then highest season opening score in a win over Georgia.

Meet Promotions
Friday night is Alumni Meet and more than 60 gymnasts from the men’s and women’s team will be in attendance. It’s all the Mardi Gras meet so fans are encouraged to wear their beads and most festive mambo gear.

Arrive Early
A great crowd is expected on Friday night. Fans are encouraged to arrive early and purchase tickets online in advance at LSUtix.net.

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. There will also be two fan assistance shuttles serving fans in lots around the PMAC for the first time. The shuttle is free to all fans and begins at 5:30 p.m.

Geaux Clear
Fans are reminded that LSU’s Geaux Clear policy is in effect for all sports. The following bags are permitted inside LSU Athletic venues: clear 12” x 6” x 12” or smaller bags, clear 1-gallon freezer bags & clear or non-clear 4.5” x 6.5” (approximately the size of a person’s hand) wallets/wristlets/clutches. For more information regarding the clear bag policy, please visit http://www.LSUsports.net/geauxclear.

Fans can follow the Tigers on the team’s social media channels: @LSUgym on Instagram and Twitter, www.Facebook.com/lsugym and at YouTube.com/lsugymnastics.