Alabama
Georgia
Alabama Gymnastics Beats Georgia, 196.900-196.875, to Open SEC and Road Schedule
1/18/2019 9:31:00 PM | Gymnastics
The Crimson Tide posted season-best scores on all four events to get the win
ATHENS, Ga. – The Alabama gymnastics team used season-best scores on all four events and a clutch beam rotation to beat Georgia, 196.900-196.875, in Athens, Ga., Friday night.
"As coaches we told the ladies before we got started to trust the process, compete free and that it was about them and their teammates," UA head coach Dana Duckworth said. "It wasn't about the opponent, it wasn't about their crowd, it was Alabama competing as one, with one heartbeat."
The Crimson Tide goes to 6-1-0 overall and 1-0-0 in Southeastern Conference competition, while the Bulldogs drop to 1-2-0 and 0-1-0 in the SEC. With the win, Alabama is now 12-1-0 against the Bulldogs under Duckworth, including a 5-0-0 mark in regular-season meets.
"It is a confidence boost for this team to get this kind of win in this kind of environment," Duckworth said. "We made several big steps tonight toward being the team we're capable of."
Alabama closed the night on the balance beam. With the Bulldogs posting a flurry of 9.9-or-better scores on the floor, the Tide got big beam scores from sophomores Alonza Klopfer and Lexi Graber along with freshman Emily Gaskins to secure the victory.
Klopfer started the rotation off with a career-best 9.85, while Gaskins scored a career-high 9.875 in the fifth position. Graber, coming up in the anchor spot, scored a career best of her own, going 9.925 to close out the rotation and the Bulldogs.
"I challenged the ladies this week with major changes in rhythm, pressure sets and some choreography improvements," Duckworth said. "I found myself exceedingly calm during the event tonight because I trust them and 100 percent believe in their ability to be an incredible Bama beam team. I didn't care about anything else but seeing them execute aggressively. Some did and some still have room for improvement, but that just makes the journey that much more exciting."
The Tide opened the night with a 49.125 on the uneven bars led by a 9.875 from Gaskins in the anchor position and a 9.850 from sophomore Kylie Dickson. The Tide then posted a 49.275 on the vault led by a 9.900 from freshman Shallon Olsen and a 9.875 from Graber.
It was another season-best tally for the Tide on the floor exercise, with senior Ariana Guerra pacing Alabama to a 49.300 team score with a 9.925, tying her career-best score.
Alabama returns home next Friday to take on defending SEC champion LSU. The meet gets underway at 8 p.m. ET and will be broadcast on the SEC Network. Tickets are available through the Alabama Ticket Office (205.348.2262) located in the lobby of Coleman Coliseum, or online at RollTide.com.
For all the latest information on Alabama gymnastics, follow BamaGymnastics on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook and head coach Dana Duckworth on Twitter and Instagram at @UACoachDana.
Players Mentioned
