Alabama
Auburn
Alabama Gymnastics Closes Out Home Slate with 196.700-196.400 Win Over Auburn
3/1/2019 10:04:00 PM | Gymnastics
The Crimson Tide was led by the senior trio of Abby Armbrecht, Angelina Giancroce and Ariana Guerra, who pushed Alabama to its 125th win over the Tigers in their last 126 meetings
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – They closed out their last meet in Coleman Coliseum like champions.
The senior trio of Abby Armbrecht, Angelina Giancroce and Ariana Guerra combined to power the No. 8 Alabama gymnastics team to a 196.700-196.400 win over No. 12 Auburn.
"This team doesn't crumble easily and we won't break easily," Giancroce said. "That's something I've seen in this team that wasn't necessarily there in previous years, we don't give up. I think that's a beautiful thing and I think it's something that will take us through the rest of this season."
All three women either tied or posted new career-best scores on at least one event on the way to Alabama's 125th win over the Tigers in the two team's last 126 meetings. Guerra posted career-best marks on all three of her events, winning the vault, uneven bars and floor exercise.
"A lot of times on Senior Night, the ladies put a lot of pressure on themselves and almost over-try," UA head coach Dana Duckworth said. "These ladies did not do that tonight – they stayed present."
Alabama came out on fire, posting season-best scores of 49.350 and 49.325 on the vault and uneven bars, respectively, paced by Guerra's career-best 9.950s on both events.
"I've been going into the gym and trying to fix every little thing I can do, especially on bars," Guerra said. "I set a goal this year to have my best performance on bars. When I saw the 9.95, I just started tearing up because I've always discredited myself about being able to accomplish the handstands needed to get that score, so finally seeing that was a huge reward for me and I just want to keep pushing and keep fighting."
Ahead of the Tigers by more than a quarter of a point midway through the meet, Alabama ran into trouble on the beam, tallying a pair of falls. Again, the Tide's seniors came through. Armbrecht's career-best-tying 9.900 came after the first fall, while Giancroce's career-best 9.85 in the anchor spot came after another slip.
"In practice, we put ourselves in scenarios of being down two-tenths, three-tenths entering the final rotation," Armbrecht said. "We practice the mindset of knowing we're in a hole and we have to come out. I think we just really put it out there today and I'm really proud of everyone for that."
Despite counting a fall on the beam, Alabama went into the fourth and final rotation down by just two-tenths of a point. Carried by the 13,861 fans that filled the coliseum Friday, Alabama proceeded to roar to the win with a 49.500, led by another career-best 9.950 from Guerra in the anchor position as well as Armbrecht's season-best 9.925. The Tide also got a season-best 9.900 from junior Maddie Desch and a 9.875 from freshman Shallon Olsen.
"Tonight was not only about our seniors, it was about Alabama gymnastics focusing on Alabama gymnastics and being the very best we can be," Duckworth said. "They fought to the very end. We're still growing and we're getting better."
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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