Alabama
Missouri
No. 7 Alabama Gymnastics Downs No. 21 Missouri, 197.550-196.850
2/7/2020 10:48:00 PM | Gymnastics
It was the Crimson Tide's highest score since posting the same total against Georgia in 2016
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – The No. 7-ranked Alabama gymnastics team posted a season high to down No. 21 Missouri, 197.550-196.850, Friday night in Coleman Coliseum in front of a pink-clad crowd of 11,360 fans. It was the Crimson Tide's 16th-annual Power of Pink meet, helping raising awareness in the fight against breast cancer.
The Tide's final tally, which included season-best scores on the vault, uneven bars and floor exercise, marked its first time scoring over 197.500 since going 197.525 against North Carolina on March 2, 2018, and it's highest score since posting a 197.600 in the NCAA Championships semifinals on April 14, 2017.
Junior Lexi Graber led the way with a career night, scoring 9.9 or better on every event and matching her career high all-around total of 39.65. Freshman Makarri Doggette posted a stellar 39.500 in her all-around debut. Sophomores Shallon Olsen (9.900) and Griffin James (9.875) both scored career highs on the floor exercise, while senior Maddie Desch added a season-high 9.925 on the event.
Head Coach Dana Duckworth Said
"There is something very special with this team, and I want to repeat what I said last week – tonight was a complete, 1,000%, team effort. As a coach you watch their hearts become one, you watch them literally be selfless - it doesn't matter who is going, they all want everyone to be successful. It is so amazing, so fun to watch and I can't wait for them to continue to have this chemistry that is so dense and unique and be able to shine."
Four Rotations with the Crimson Tide
- Alabama opened the meet with a season-best 49.375 on the vault, led by Graber's 9.925, and 9.875s from Olsen and Doggette
- The Tide tied its season-best uneven bars total, going 49.450 behind four-consecutive scores of 9.9-or-better, including 9.925s from senior Shea Mahoney and Doggette
- Graber also led the way on the balance beam, closing the rotation with a season-best 9.925, leading the Tide to a 49.250, its second highest beam score of the season
- Alabama closed with a season-best 49.475 on the floor exercise, led by a 9.925 for Desch and 9.9s from Graber and Olsen
Inside the Score Sheet
- The Crimson Tide's 49.450 on the uneven bars marked its fourth week in a row with at least a 49.300 on the event
- Graber scored 9.9s on the uneven bars and floor exercise and 9.925s on vault and balance beam to total a 39.65 in the all-around, tying her career high
- Graber has scored 9.875 or better in 12 of her 18 routines this season, including nine routines of 9.9 or higher
- In her first all-around, Doggette scored a 39.500, including a 9.875 in her collegiate vault debut, a 9.925 on the uneven bars, a 9.825 on the balance beam and a 9.875 on the floor exercise
- Olsen tied her career high with a 9.900 on the floor exercise, competing a difficulty-packed routine that included a double-twisting double-back and a punch front through to double tuck
- Sophomore Griffin James scored a career-high 9.875 on the floor exercise
- James made her debut in the Tide's competitive lineup this year and has competed in the floor lineup in every meet of the season
- Mahoney has now scored at least 9.875 in every uneven bar routine she has competed this season
Up Next
- The Crimson Tide remains at home for its next meet, taking on the Arkansas Razorbacks on Friday, February 14 at 5:45 p.m. CT
- The meet will also be Alabama's Alumni Night
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
