Alabama
Georgia
No. 8 Alabama Gymnastics Downs No. 10 Georgia, 197.450-196.050 on Saturday Night
3/7/2020 10:16:00 PM | Gymnastics
The Crimson Tide posted its fifth 197-plus score of the season to move to 27-2 against the Bulldogs since 2010
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – The No. 8 Alabama gymnastics team turned in its third 197-plus score in a row and fifth of the season to defeat No. 10 Georgia 197.450-196.050 in front of 10,792 fans in Coleman Coliseum Saturday night. It was the Crimson Tide's final home meet of the season and first Saturday meet in Tuscaloosa since 2003.
Alabama closed the night with a 49.600 on the floor exercise, its highest tally on the event since going 49.650 to close the regular season against Iowa State in 2017. The Tide's floor lineup included four scores of 9.925 from senior Maddie Desch, junior Lexi Graber along with freshmen Luisa Blanco and Makarri Doggette and a 9.900 from senior Shea Mahoney.
It was Senior Night for the trio of Desch, Mahoney and Wynter Childers, with all three scoring in the Tide's lineup  in their final meet in Coleman Coliseum.
With the win, Alabama goes to 15-1 against Georgia under head coach Dana Duckworth, including a 7-0 mark in regular-season meetings. Since 2010, the Crimson Tide is 27-2 against the Bulldogs in all meetings and 6-0 in Tuscaloosa.
Head Coach Dana Duckworth Said
"I always say that senior night can go a lot of different ways because they can overtry and I think these ladies really trusted their training and they were beautiful with everything they did. We had to fight for a lot of little things here and there - we definitely gave away some landings that I think could benefit us in the future - but overall, the way they finished on the floor was just beautiful. I thought there were a lot of little lessons here and there from every event and we really closed out a great home season."
Four Rotations with the Crimson Tide
- The Crimson Tide opened with a 49.325 on the vault paced by 9.9s from sophomore Shallon Olsen and junior Lexi Graber, which tied for the top score on the night, while Desch posted a 9.875.
- Mahoney scored a 9.900 to win the uneven bars, leading the Tide to a 49.225 team score on the event, while Childers led off the rotation with a season-high tying 9.850.
- A 9.900 from freshman Luisa Blanco and a 9.875 from junior Alonza Klopfer pushed the Tide to a 49.300 on the balance beam.
- Alabama closed its floor exercise lineup with four 9.925s and a 9.900 to tally a 49.600.
Inside the Score Sheet
- The Crimson Tide's 49.600 on the floor exercise marks the fifth straight week the Tide has posted a 49.400-or-better on the event.
- With tonight's 49.325, Alabama has now scored 49.300-or-better five meets in a row.
- Desch tied her season high on both of the events she competed, scoring a 9.875 on the vault to open the night and a 9.925 on the floor exercise to close it out. Â
- Olsen posted a season-best 9.900 on the vault, tying her career-best score in the process.
- Senior Wynter Childers tied her season-best score on the uneven bars with a 9.850.
- Blanco's 9.900 on the balance beam marks her fifth score of 9.900-or-better on the event and her third event title on balance beam this season. She also added an event title on floor exercise with her 9.925, her second-consecutive win on the event in just four routines.
- Desch and Graber tied their season-best floor exercise scores with matching 9.925s.
- Graber won the all-around with a score of 39.450.
Up Next
- Alabama has one more regular-season meet on the schedule, heading just up the road to Birmingham's Legacy Arena for the sixth-annual Elevate the Stage meet against Auburn on Friday, March 13 at 7 p.m.
- The meet will be on the podium, the same setup the Tide will see at the Southeastern Conference Championships the week after Elevate and at the NCAA Championships.
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
