BOL Round Table

No. 5 Alabama Gymnastics Upends No. 4 LSU, 197.725-197.500
The Crimson Tide’s total is the best road score in the nation this season

Vault Bars Beam Floor Total
Alabama 49.525 49.350 49.350 49.500 197.725
LSU 49.600 49.300 49.250 49.350 197.500

BATON ROUGE, La. – In front of an LSU-record 8,574 fans, the No. 5 ranked Alabama gymnastics team put up its best score of the season to upend No. 4 LSU, which also put up its best score of the season, in the Pete Maravich Assembly Center Friday night, 197.725-197.500. The Crimson Tide’s total is the highest road score in the nation this season.

“It was just an extraordinary night of college gymnastics,” UA head coach Sarah Patterson said. “It was loud, it was rocking and both teams put up great performances.”

Even a perfect 10 by LSU’s Lloimincia Hall in the Tiger’s final routine of the night wasn’t enough to derail the Tide after senior Ashley Priess closed out UA’s 49.350 on the balance beam with a meet-high 9.950. Priess’ mark, which tied her career-best score on the beam, followed a 9.925 by junior Kim Jacob and a 9.85 from junior Diandra Milliner

“The pressure was on Ashley (Priess) just like it was at the national championships last year and she came through, like she always does in these situations,” Patterson said.

The Tide got the night started with its second-highest uneven bars total of the season, a 49.350, led by Priess’ winning 9.925, which tied her career-best score. Senior Ashley Sledge got things underway with a season-best 9.9 on the bars while senior Becca Alexin tied her season best of 9.85, a score matched by sophomore Kaitlyn Clark.

Sophomore Kayla Williams highlighted a season-best 49.525 team vault score with a career-best 9.975. Freshmen Carley Sims and Laruen Beers both chipped in career-best scores on the vault, going 9.875 and 9.925, respectively.

The Tide kept things rolling in the third rotation, tying its season best on the floor exercise with a 49.500, led by Jacob’s 9.950, 9.9s from Milliner and junior Sarah DeMeo and 9.875s from Beers and Priess.

Friday night was also LSU’s “pink” meet, raising awareness in the fight against breast cancer. The Tigers generated $108,000 for its sixth-annual Etta James Meet which benefits Foundation 56’s efforts to fight breast cancer in Louisiana. The Tide is now 20-0 when competing in pink, including a 3-0 mark this season.

Alabama closes out its regular season at home on March 15 against No. 2 Oklahoma. Tickets for the Tide’s regular-season finale are available through the Alabama Ticket Office (205.348.2262) located in the lobby of Coleman Coliseum or online at RollTide.com.

Alabama’s Top Individual Finishers:
Event Gymnast Place Score
Vault Kayla Williams 1st 9.975
Uneven Bars Ashley Priess 1st 9.925
Balance Beam Ashley Priess 1st 9.950
Floor Exercise Kim Jacob 2nd 9.950