Alabama
Auburn
No. 7 Gymnastics Beats No. 21 Auburn, 197.075-194.850
2/11/2011 12:00:00 AM | Gymnastics
Feb. 11, 2011
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - Coaches Sarah and David Patterson notched their 400th regular-season victory Friday night as the No. 7 ranked Alabama gymnastics team beat No. 21 Auburn 197.075-194.850 in front of a sold-out crowd of 15,075 fans in Coleman Coliseum Friday night.
"What an amazing crowd tonight," UA head coach Sarah Patterson said. "I think any time we get to compete in front of our amazing fans, it gives us a lift, but tonight's crowd gave us an extra boost."
A week after having four breaks, including three on the uneven bars, in losing to No. 1 Florida, the Crimson Tide bounced back strong against the Tigers, going 24-for-24 for the first time this season, and posting its high score of 2011.
"After the mistakes that we made last week, our ladies came into practice this week and worked exceptionally hard to take the steps we needed to move us forward and I think we did that tonight," Patterson said. "We certainly had a purpose to what we were doing in practice all week and I think it showed tonight."
Senior Kayla Hoffman won the all-around with a 39.525 and the floor exercise with a 9.925. Hoffman and freshman Diandra Milliner tied for top honors on the vault with a 9.925. On the uneven bars sophomore Ashley Sledge and freshman Jordan Moore tied for first with 9.9s while freshmen Kim Jacob and Sarah DeMeo won the balance beam with matching 9.85s.
Against Florida, three breaks on the uneven bars led the Tide to one of its lowest scores in five years, Friday night, the Tide posted a season-high 49.375 on the uneven bars, its highest score of the night on any event, led by 9.9s from Sledge and Moore. Junior Geralen Stack-Eaton added a 9.875 on the bars while Hoffman and sophomore Becca Alexin chipped in 9.85s.
Alabama kept things going with a 49.100 on the balance beam, its second-highest mark of the season, behind 9.85s from Jacob and De Meo. The Tide closed out the night with a 49.325 on the floor exercise, led by Stack-Eaton's 9.9 and Hoffman's 9.925.
The Tide got off to a solid start, posting a 49.275 on the vault, its second-highest score of the season, anchored by Hoffman and Milliner's matching 9.925s.
Friday marked the eighth time in program history that Alabama has sold out the Coliseum and it came on the night when the Pattersons, in their 33rd season leading the Tide, not only notched their 400th regular-season win, but their 101st consecutive victory over the Tigers.
Prior to the meet the A-Club, the UA athletic department's letter-winners organization, announced the donation of $50,000 to establish the Sarah Patterson A-Club Scholarship.
"It's certainly a wonderful honor, and while it's my name on the scholarship, it recognizes everything that David and I have been able to accomplish together over the course of our career," Sarah Patterson said.
The Tide returns to Coleman Coliseum next Friday to face the Kentucky Wildcats in Alabama's seventh annual Power of Pink meet. Tickets are on sale online at RollTide.com and through the Alabama Ticket Office (205.348.2262) located in the lobby of the Coliseum.
Players Mentioned
