0.125, a little over one tenth, was the difference between LSU and Alabama’s team scores Friday night in Tuscaloosa, AL.
On the final rotation, Jessie Jordan closed the meet for the LSU Tigers by putting up a solid 9.900 on BB. Meanwhile, the Crimson Tide posted 3 consecutive 9.900s on FX and began to close in on LSU’s lead. Alabama’s Lauren Beers held the anchor spot and needed a score of at least 9.975 to secure the upset over #2 LSU. On her 2nd tumbling pass, she left out a crucial element, which dropped her start value to 9.7 leaving her with a score of 9.475. LSU came out with the win, an impressive showing on the road and an unblemished record in the SEC at 7-0, and 10-1 overall.
Both teams came into the meet after posting impressive wins last week against two strong SEC teams, Florida and Georgia. The excitement before and during the meet was tangible. A match-up of the #2 and #5 teams in the nation, and the top two teams in the SEC, lived up to the anticipation.
After the second rotation, the Tigers gained the lead and kept it. The Tide’s exciting rally on the last event did tighten the margin between the team’s scores but was just short of the win.
Even though the Tigers did not have last week’s co-SEC gymnast of the week, Rheagan Courville, on every event, they showed their depth and held off a motivated Crimson Tide home team. Courville had been nursing flu-like symptoms during the week, and for the first time this season did not compete on all four events.
Next week, Alabama will travel to Missouri; LSU will face Minnesota at home. These top 2 SEC teams will face off again shortly in the SEC championships in Duluth, GA March 21.
The last time the Tide fell at home was in 2009, also to the LSU Tigers.
11,749 fans were in attendance at Coleman Coliseum.
Link: LSU Release