Alabama
Auburn
Alabama Gymnastics Falls at No. 8 Auburn Friday Night, 197.525-197.125
1/28/2022 11:09:00 PM | Gymnastics
The Crimson Tide closed with the second-highest balance beam total in school history with a 49.650, anchored by a 9.975 from Luisa Blanco
AUBURN, Ala. – The No. 9 Alabama gymnastics team fell to No. 8 Auburn in Auburn Arena Friday night, 197.525-197.125. The Crimson Tide is now 129-12 all-time against the Tigers, including a 129-3 marks since 1980.
Alabama closed the meet with the second-highest balance beam total in its history, going 49.650. Five Tide gymnasts scored a 9.9-or-better on the beam, led by Luisa Blanco's near-perfect 9.975 in the anchor spot. Ella Burgess led the Tide off on beam with a career-best 9.900, while Lexi Graber, Mati Waligora and Lilly Hudson all posted 9.925s. Waligora and Hudson both tied their career-best score.
Alabama started the night off on the uneven bars with a 49.125, led by Blanco's third-straight 9.925 of the season on the event. On vault, Shallon Olsen posted a season-best 9.900 in the leadoff spot to pace the Tide to a 49.025. Alabama finished off its floor exercise rotation strong, with Graber going 9.925 in the anchor position, leading UA to a 49.325.
Blanco won the individual uneven bars and balance beam titles, while Olsen won the vault. Mati Waligora posted a career-best 39.375 to take second in the all-around competition.
Head Coach Dana Duckworth Said
"We didn't get off to the start that we wanted to tonight. We wanted to come in and handle the chaos, but I felt like we held back on the first two rotations. We did make some steps forward on vault, with six 10.0 vaults in our lineup, which will help us in the long run. After the first two rotations, we went over to the floor and beam and had great performances on both. To compete like that – where we were aggressive, strong and showed great composure in this kind of environment – is what makes a championship team. We will use these lessons to make us better and to move forward."
Inside the Scoresheet
- The Crimson Tide's 49.650 tied the second-best balance beam score in school history after also going 49.650 on March 14, 2014 against Auburn in Tuscaloosa
- Ella Burgess led Alabama off with a career-best 9.900 on the balance beam, while Mati Waligora and Lilly Hudson both tied their career-best marks during the rotation
- With a 9.925 against the Tigers, Lexi Graber has now scored 9.9-or-better in 19 of her last 21 floor exercise routines
- Hudson scored a 9.900 in her third floor exercise routine of the season and is now averaging 9.900 on the event
- With a 9.925 at Auburn, Luisa Blanco has now scored 9.9-or-better in nine of her last 11 uneven bars routines
- Shallon Olsen led off the Tide's vault lineup with a season-best 9.900, while Waligora posted a season-best 9.825
- Waligora posted a career-best 39.375 in the all-around
Up Next
- After taking on the Tigers in Auburn, Alabama returns home for a tri-meet with North Carolina and Western Michigan
- The meet gets underway at 7:30 p.m. CT and will air on the SEC Network
- It will be the Crimson Tide's second home meet of the season and second meet against non-conference opponents
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Players Mentioned
