No. 8 Alabama Gymnastics Faces No. 5 LSU in Baton Rouge on ESPN Friday Night

BATON ROUGE, La. – The No. 8 Alabama gymnastics team is back on the road this week, traveling to Baton Rouge, La., to take on No. 5 LSU Friday night at 8 p.m. CT. The meet will air on ESPN in the Pete Maravich Assembly Center, with Bart Conner, Kathy Johnson Clarke and Samantha Peszek calling the action.

The meet will mark back-to-back Southeastern Conference contests for the Crimson Tide after beating Georgia last weekend in Tuscaloosa. Alabama and LSU last met at the 2021 NCAA Championships, where Alabama finished third and LSU took fourth in the second semifinal session. Overall, the two teams met three times in 2021, with Alabama going 3-0.

Alabama Head Coach Dana Duckworth

"Last week we had people step up, step in, do their job and finish very strong. There was a lot of team unity built especially following an injury, and the ladies really getting outside themselves and doing it for Makarri (Doggette). That just goes to show how close this team is. I watched the Super Bowl and I was listening to the coaches and players about what makes that team successful. One of the things I heard that really resonated was that 'this team is so close, and we make each other better every day' and that is what's happening with Alabama gymnastics. It's exciting to see what Team 48 is doing and will do in the future."

Friday's Meet

The Crimson Tide travels to Baton Rouge, La., to take on the LSU Tigers Friday, Feb 18
The meet will air on ESPN at 8 p.m. CST in Pete Maravich Assembly Center, with Bart Conner, Kathy Johnson Clarke and Samantha Peszek calling the action
No. 8 Alabama comes into Friday's competition following a win against Georgia in Tuscaloosa last Friday
No. 5 LSU posted a season-high score of 197.975 against Auburn in its last home meet
Alabama's current season-high total is 197.850 while the Tiger's posted a season -best 197.975 last weekend
The last two times the Crimson Tide met the LSU Tigers in the regular season, Alabama won 197.725-197.325 at Coleman Coliseum (2021) and 196.775-196.425 at LSU (2020)

Last Time Out

The Crimson Tide earned its fourth-197+ score in a row and third over 197.475 at its annual Power of Pink meet against UGA
Luisa Blanco won the individual title for the uneven bars (9.950) and the all-around (39.500), while Lilly Hudson took top honors on the floor exercise (9.950)
The Crimson Tide's 49.500 was its second-highest score of the season on the uneven bars, following a 49.550 against Kentucky
Alabama posted a 49.250 on the vault, marking its second-highest score of the season on the apparatus
Lexi Graber's 9.925 on the floor exercise marks her 19th score of 9.9-or-better in her last 21 floor routines
Shallon Olsen matched her season high of 9.900 on the vault for the third meet in a row, all coming from the lead-off spot
Cameron Machado (9.900) scored her third 9.9-or-better mark on the uneven bars in the last four meets and has scored 9.850-or-better on the uneven bars in all six meets thus far

Up Next

Alabama returns home after Friday's meet at LSU and will face the Missouri Tigers in Coleman Coliseum on Friday, Feb. 25, at 5 p.m. CT
The meet will air on the SEC Network
For all the latest information on Alabama gymnastics, follow @BamaGymnastics on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. All the latest information on Alabama Athletics can be found on @UA_Athletics on Twitter and Instagram and Alabama Athletics on Facebook.