Alabama Gymnastics Beats Auburn on Senior Night
3/17/2006 12:00:00 AM | Gymnastics
TUSCALOOSA, ALA ?? The Alabama Gymnastics team beat Auburn 196.400-194.850 here in Tuscaloosa on Senior Night.
Seniors Mari Bayer, Rachael Delahoussaye, Dana Filetti, Ashley Miles and Dana Pierce all enjoyed their last home meet in Coleman Coliseum, going out with not only the win, but a mixture of laughter and tears accompanied by the sustained roar of the partisan crowd. The Tide's senior five leaves Alabama with a 21-3 career home record.
"I think it's great being able to honor the accomplishments of the seniors, what they have done and what they have meant to our program" Alabama head coach Sarah Patterson said. "Each and every year, it is always one of the most special nights."
The 10,008 fans on hand for the meet pushed Alabama's season average to 12,654 per meet, the second best in collegiate gymnastics history and the best average in the nation since 1993. The Tide's total shatters the school and Southeastern Conference record, bettering the old mark of 10,570 set last season.
"We have real dedicated fans here," Bayer said. "It's amazing! Going into spring break, a lot of people did leave, but a lot of people showed up to support us. When I was deciding on where to go to college, Alabama's crowd, their enthusiasm and support stuck out than any other school in the entire country. Tonight just proved that. That means so much. It just makes senior night that much special."
The Tide, which has gone the majority of the season with at most one all-arounder, went with three tonight - Miles, sophomore Terin Humphrey and freshman Melanie Banville. Miles, in her first all-around this season, won with a 39.475 while Humphrey was second with a 39.300.
Miles also won the floor exercise with a 9.975, and tied with Filetti and freshman Brittany Magee for top honors on the vault. Banville won the uneven bars while Auburn's Julie Dwyer was first on the balance beam with a 9.9.
Alabama posted a 49.025 on the floor exercise behind Miles' 9.975 and Humphrey's 9.875 to close out the meet. Auburn tallied a 48.550 on the floor exercise. The Tide got things with a 49.375 on the vault, led by a trio of 9.9s from Filetti, Magee and Miles. It was a season high for Filetti and matched her career best. Banville added a career best of her own, going 9.85. Auburn totaled a 49.025 on the vault.
Led by a 9.825 from Banville, Alabama tallied a 48.900 on the uneven bars. Sophomore Terin Humphrey scored a 9.8 while senior Mari Bayer posted a 9.775. Auburn tallied a 48.375 on the uneven bars. On the balance beam Miles posted a season best 9.85 while junior Erin Rightley tied her career best with a 9.85 of her own, pushing the Tide to a season best 49.100. Auburn posted a 48.900 on the beam.
"Just the opportunity to get out there in the beam lineup just made my senior night even better," Miles said of her second beam appearance of the season. "Whatever I can contribute to that team beam score was more special to me than winning the all-around."
With the regular season now behind them, Alabama goes right into the postseason with the Southeastern Conference Championships Saturday, March 25 at the Birmingham Jefferson Convention Complex starting at 6 p.m.
