Alabama
Missouri
No. 8 Alabama Gymnastics Travels to No. 16 Missouri for SEC Matchup
1/31/2019 12:25:00 PM | Gymnastics
The Crimson Tide is making just its second road trip of the season, traveling to Columbia, Mo., for its third of eight-consecutive meets against Southeastern Conference competition
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – After opening its season with three home meets in four weeks, the No. 8 Alabama gymnastics team travels to Columbia, Mo., this Friday for just its second road contest of the season, taking on No. 16 Missouri.
Friday's meet, which will air live on the SEC Network, is slated to get underway at 7:30 p.m. CT in Hearnes Arena. It will be the Crimson Tide's third of eight consecutive meets again SEC opponents.
"We're going against another SEC team and there is nothing like competing in the SEC," junior Wynter Childers said. "The energy is just different, the way the crowd is, the way they cheer."
The Crimson Tide comes into this Friday after posting season-best scores on the uneven bars and balance beam last Friday against LSU.
"I think we're moving in the absolute right direction," UA head coach Dana Duckworth said. "We need to stay the course in terms of the details, the discipline and the effort and if we continue to work on the sticks, the handstands and the presentation, then we'll be even better this week."
Alabama is coming off back-to-back 196.8-plus scores, while the Tigers posted a season-best 196.450 in their second meet of the season at Florida on Jan. 11.
Alabama and Missouri met three times in 2018, with the Tide going 3-0. Alabama won the regular-season meeting in Tuscaloosa 195.850-194.525, finished second (196.975) to Mizzou's seventh (196.100) place finish at the SEC Championships and was first (197.275) to UM's fifth (196.100) at the NCAA Tuscaloosa Regional Championships.
The Tide won its last trip to Columbia, 197.225-195.500, scoring a 49.600 on the balance beam, the fourth-best total in school history.
The Tide is on the road for two weeks in a row, following the Missouri meet with a trip to Arkansas the week after. Alabama's next home meet comes on Friday, Feb. 15 when Florida comes to town for the Tide's annual Power of Pink meet. Tickets are available through the Alabama Ticket Office (205.348.2262), located in the lobby of Coleman Coliseum, and 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.
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