BATON ROUGE – D-D Breaux’s team can go home again, next week.
After competing in the LSU Field House for the first time in more than four years, the LSU gymnastics team defeated Illinois, Illinois-Chicago and Michigan State Friday night, but it wasn’t the clean and consistent performance the Tigers have enjoyed throughout the season.
Instead, the Tigers were happy to overcome three falls, come away with the victory and await its return to the friendly confines of the Maravich Assembly Center next week when it takes on Southeast Missouri State in the final home meet of the regular season.
The Tigers improved to 8-3 overall and recorded the highest score in LSU Field House history with a 196.050. UIC (195.075) was second , Illinois (194.350) was third and Michigan State (190.900) was fourth.
LSU opened the meet with a season-high 48.900 on vault, led by junior Kim Descalopoulis’ 9.90, a perfect score for the Pike Front vault.
MacEachern added a 9.80 while Burns scored 9.775 and sophomore Sharene Mamby scored a 9.725 in the first vault of her career as a Tiger.
The Tigers led Michigan State, 48.900-48.625, while UIC was in third (48.525) and Illinois was fourth (48.500).
In the second rotation, the Tigers hit the first four routines on bars before Burns, an All-American on the event, and MacEachern each fell.
Freshman Beth Boudreaux scored a 9.95 after receiving the first perfect 10.0 from one judge for her routine. Mamby scored a career-high 9.925 while Stacey Wegner and Marina Degteva added a pair of 9.825s.
LSU scored a 48.925 on the apparatus to total 87.825 through two events and continued to lead UIC, 97.825-97.200. Michigan State fell to third (97.200) while Illinois was fourth (97.200).
With four 9.875s and a 9.95 by Burns on beam, LSU totaled 49.450 to increase its lead over the three teams. The Tigers’ second-ranked beam team went 6-for-6 and has now hit 45-of-48 routines this season and have yet to count a fall.
LSU continued to lead UIC, 147.275-146.525, while Illinois moved up to third (145.700) and Michigan State dropped to fourth (144.650).
In the final rotation, LSU maintained its lead as Wegener scored a 9.925 to lead the Tigers to a score of 48.775 on floor to close out the meet.
LSU returns to action Friday, March 19 for its final home meet of the season before hosting the NCAA Region 4 Championships April 10 in the Maravich Assembly Center. Tickets are available through the LSU Ticket Office or by calling 388-2184.