Alabama
LSU
No. 7 Alabama Gymnastics Beats No. 6 LSU in Baton Rouge, 196.775-196.425
1/31/2020 10:03:00 PM | Gymnastics
The win marked the Crimson Tide’s first in Baton Rouge since 2013
BATON ROUGE, La. – The No. 7 Alabama gymnastics team marched into Baton Rouge, La., Friday night and upset No. 6 LSU on its home floor, 196.775-196.425. It marked Alabama's first win at LSU since 2013.
Junior Lexi Graber led the way with a big night, scoring a season-best 39.475 in the all-around, including a 9.900 on the floor exercise and 9.875 on the balance beam to clinch the meet for the Crimson Tide. Freshmen Makarri Doggette and Luisa Blanco gave Alabama a big spark on the night. Doggette went 9.875 on the uneven bars and a career-best 9.950 on the floor exercise, while Blanco helped close out the meet and the Tigers with a 9.900 on the balance beam.
Alabama outscored the Tigers on the vault (49.025-48.750), uneven bars (49.300-49.250) and floor exercise (49.325-49.175) to roll up the win.
Head Coach Dana Duckworth Said
"Tonight was absolutely a 100% team effort. Our ladies fought event by event and routine by routine within every performance. They had an opportunity, starting strong and ending with an intensity that will only help us continue to build confidence. The environment was intense, and I was really proud of the way we stayed in the 'Bama bubble' and focused on what we needed to do to close out this meet. This was a great step for us to finish like this under pressure on balance beam. The best part is we still have so much room for improvement and our ladies know it and are determined to put in the work to continue to build the character of this team."
Four Rotations with the Crimson Tide
- The Crimson Tide started off the meet on the uneven bars, scoring a 49.300 behind matching 9.875s from senior Shea Mahoney, Graber and Doggette
- Mahoney paced Alabama to a 49.025 on the vault with a 9.850 from the lead-off position
- Doggette unleashed a huge, career-best 9.950, followed by a 9.900 from Graber to push the Tide to a 49.325 on the floor exercise, matching its season high
- Alabama closed with a 49.125 on the balance beam, with Blanco and Graber finishing off the rotation with a 9.900 and 9.875, respectively
Inside the Scoresheet
- After scoring a 49.300+ just once last season, Alabama has already posted three scores of 49.300 or better this season
- In four outings this season, Doggette has posted four-consecutive scores of 9.875 or better on the uneven bars
- Mahoney has gone in the uneven bars lineup three times this season, scoring 9.875 each time
- Mahoney has also posted back-to-back 9.85s on the vault after leading the Tide on the event against LSU
- With her 9.875 against the Tigers, senior Maddie Desch has now posted four-consecutive floor exercise scores of 9.850 or better
- Graber closed out Alabama's floor exercise rotation with her third-consecutive score of 9.900 on the event this season
- Blanco has gone in the Tide's balance beam lineup in all four meets, scoring 9.875 or better every time, including a 9.900 against LSU
Up Next
- Alabama comes back home to Coleman Coliseum for its next meet, taking on No. 20 Missouri Tigers on Friday, February 7 at 7:15 p.m. CT.
- The meet will be Alabama's 16th-annual Power of Pink meet, designated to bring awareness in the fight against breast cancer.
- 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
