Alabama Gymnastics Upended by Georgia, 197.625-197.250
3/15/2003 12:00:00 AM | Gymnastics
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"I told the ladies to hold their heads high tonight and to not be down," head coach Sarah Patterson said. "We took some steps forward tonight and even with a bobble here and a bobble there on the balance beam, we still put together a very good team score."
Junior Jeana Rice won the all-around with a 39.750, which tied her career best mark. Alabama's lone senior Kristin Sterner posted a 39.300 on senior night.
Alabama's total was its third highest of the season. The loss was the Tide's first at home during the regular season in over three years. Alabama went 23-0 since February 13, 1999 when it lost to Georgia. Tonight's meet was also the Tide's seventh 197-plus score of the season, tying the program best number set in 2001. The Tide still has as many as five scores left in this season.
Even though they were down by nearly three-quarters of a point going into the last rotation, Alabama never backed down, scoring a 49.600, its second highest floor total of the year, in the last rotation. The Tide was led on the floor by a pair of 9.95s from freshman Ashley Miles and Rice. Sterner chipped in a 9.925 and junior Stephanie Kite went 9.9 for the fourth meet in a row. Georgia posted a 49.425 keyed by a 9.975 by junior Chelsea Byrd.
Alabama got things started in a big way with a 10.0 on the vault from Rice, her second of the season while Miles anchored the Tide's vault string with a 9.975, leading the Tide to a 49.425. It was Rice's first vault 10.0, her first came at Georgia in week two of the season on the balance beam. The Tide's team mark is its second highest of the season. Georgia posted a 49.575 behind a 9.975 from junior Chelsea Byrd.
Boosted by a 9.950 from Rice and a 9.9 from Sterner, Alabama posted a 49.400, its second highest bars score of the season. Georgia posted a 49.375 on the uneven bars behind a trio of 9.9s from juniors Kinsey Rowe, Byrd and Cory Fritzinger.
On the balance beam Rice and freshman Dana Pierce both turned in 9.85s to lead Alabama to a 48.825. Georgia posted a 49.250 on the beam behind Rowe's 9.9.
Alabama finishes out its regular season next Friday at Auburn starting at 7 p.m. It will be the Tide's first meet outside of Coleman Coliseum in a month.
