Alabama
Auburn
Alabama Gymnastics Falls at Auburn to Open the Season, 196.625-196.025
1/10/2020 11:27:00 PM | Gymnastics
The Crimson Tide opened the season more than a point ahead of its 2019 start, including a meet-best 49.300 on the floor exercise
AUBURN, Ala. –  In a meet that went down to the last rotation, Alabama gymnastics was clipped by Auburn, 196.625-196.025, in the Crimson Tide's season, road and Southeastern Conference opener in Auburn Arena in Auburn, Ala., Friday night.
The Crimson Tide is now 127-11 all-time against the Tigers, including a 127-2 mark since 1980. The two teams will meet again on Friday, March 13 in Birmingham, Ala., for the annual Elevate the Stage meet.
Alabama opened the season with a trio of freshmen – Makarri Doggette, Luisa Blanco and Ella Burgess - in the lineup, accounting for nearly a third of the Crimson Tide's routines, including UA's high score on the balance beam, a 9.900 from Blanco. Senior Maddie Desch and junior Lexi Graber also posted 9.900s on the night, with both coming on the floor exercise.
Head Coach Dana Duckworth Says
"Our team is strong, has incredible skill level and a great competitive drive, so we will use our mistakes to move forward and continue to get better. This is just the beginning of a steep climb to the top. We all wanted this win, but at the end of the day we have a baseline now and it's a much better staring point than a year ago, despite having a couple of tough spots. I thought we did a good job of staying together tonight. This was a loud environment and for a team that doesn't have as many veterans as we've had in years past, I think they handled it well, focusing on Alabama."
Four Rotations
- Alabama opened the meet with a 49.175 on the uneven bars, starting things off with a 9.825 from junior Kylie Dickson and closing the rotation with twin 9.875s from senior Shea Mahoney and Doggette
- On the vault, it was junior Lexi Graber leading the way, turning in a 9.875, while Blanco and Burgess scored 9.800 and 9.825, respectively, leading UA to a 49.075
- The Crimson Tide scored a 49.300 on the floor exercise led by a pair of 9.9s from Graber and senior Maddie Desch, while sophomore Shallon Olsen went 9.85
- Blanco led the team on the balance beam with a 9.900, but a pair of falls dropped the Tide to a 48.525 team mark
In the Lineup
- In her first routine in the Crimson Tide's competitive lineup, sophomore Griffin James scored a 9.825 on the floor exercise
- After arriving on campus on Dec. 28, and with eight practices under their belt prior to tonight's season opener, Blanco and Burgess both opened their Crimson Tide careers on the vault and closed the night on the balance beam, for a total of four routines
- Doggette competed on the uneven bars, balance beam and floor exercise, anchoring the Tide's lineup on the uneven bars and floor exercise, while Mahoney led off the Tide's vault and floor exercise rotations in addition to competing on the uneven bars
Up Next
- For the Crimson Tide's second meet of the season, the defending NCAA Champion Oklahoma Sooners will make their way to Tuscaloosa for UA's home opener on Friday, Jan. 17 for a 7:45 p.m. CT start
- Season and individual meet tickets are on sale 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.
Players Mentioned
