ATHENS, Ga. — Despite posting a season high on the road, the 11th-ranked LSU gymnastics team was unable to overcome top-ranked Georgia on Senior Night as the GymDogs took a 197.450-196.675 victory at Stegeman Coliseum on Friday.
“We had a high score on the road in front of a sellout crowd against a very, very strong Georgia team,” said LSU coach D-D Breaux. “And we pushed them. We were within three-tenths until they pulled away in the last event.”
Georgia’s score was its second highest of the year behind only its 197.900 against UCLA.
The Tigers recorded a season high on the floor exercise as they notched their best road score since the 2000 SEC Championships. The floor score of 49.425 came despite Breaux holding out LSU’s top floor performer Nicki Arnstad.
“I think the bar score is a result of using the same lineup all year long. We have created some consistency there. I liked our floor line up. With Nicki in there, that would beef up that line up just a little bit more. I was a little conservative by keeping her out to help her foot.”
Georgia overcame a fall by Breanne Rutherford on the vault to post a 49.325 in taking an early lead. Led by Beth Boudreaux’s 9.9 the Tigers kept the meet close with a 49.225.
In the second rotation, Cory Fritzenger notched a 9.925 to win the bars title and help the GymDogs extend their lead to 98.675-98.175. Meanwhile, LSU recorded fell off the pace with a 48.950 on the vault as only two Tigers scored better than 9.75.
“On the vault, we have got to start sticking our landings,” Breaux noted. “I can count four-tenths just in landing deductions and that would pull the meet to within half a point.”
On the floor, Lauren Companioni fired a career-best mark of 9.95 to win the event title and help LSU slice into the lead by 0.15. Back-to-back-to-back 9.875s by Rachel Franzella, Marina Degteva and Brooke Cazeaux were also critical en route to LSU’s season-high tally of 49.425.
It looked as though Companioni would take the floor title, however Marline Stephens scored a perfect 10.0 in the final routine of the evening. Paced by Stephens’ score, Georgia posted a 49.500 in the fourth rotation to push the final margin of victory to 0.775.
LSU returns to action on Friday March 23 at 7 p.m. when it hosts Centenary and Rhode Island at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center.