Alabama
LSU
No. 8 Alabama Gymnastics Posts Season-Best Road Score in Loss at No. 5 LSU
2/18/2022 10:32:00 PM | Gymnastics
The Crimson Tide posted also its fourth-highest balance beam total in school history behind a 9.975 from Luisa Blanco
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – The No. 8 Alabama gymnastics team posted its best road score of the season in a 198.050-197.600 loss at No. 5 LSU, Friday night at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center in Baton Rouge, La.
The Crimson Tide closed the meet with another spectacular balance beam rotation, going 49.625, anchored by a 9.975 from Luisa Blanco. It was the Tide's second highest beam total of the season, and fourth highest in school history. It also marked the first time this season that all six members of the Tide's lineup scored a 9.9-or-better on an event.
Alabama also posted its second-highest vault score of the season with a 49.450 led by Lexi Graber's career-best tying 9.975. Shallon Olsen once again led off the Tide's vault lineup with a 9.900.
The Tide posted a 49.300 on the uneven bars behind Blanco's 9.900 and a 49.225 on the floor exercise paced by a 9.925 from Graber.
Individually, Graber won the vault (9.975) and the floor exercise (9.925).
Alabama Head Coach Dana Duckworth Said
"The bounce back after a mistake and keeping our focus and energy high regardless of circumstance was a team goal and that is part of how we measured our success tonight. They handled those moments like champions, but as we move forward we have to realize that hitting 24-for-24 is crucial. Â Â We didn't get the win but there were some really outstanding performances from Shallon, Lilly (Hudson), Luisa and Lexi and the entire balance beam team. I appreciated how this team went to the last event, on the road and dominated. Â Everything that is happening this season is part of who this team is becoming, and I believe in this team and I know that its best gymnastics is still to come."
Inside the Scoresheet
- Alabama has now scored five-consecutive scores of 197+, including three that went for 197.600-or-better
- The Crimson Tide has also posted two beam scores this season that rank among the Tide's four best all-time, with both coming on the road, including a 49.650 at Auburn and a 49.625 at LSU
- In addition to a 9.975 from Luisa Blanco, Lilly Hudson and Mati Waligora both scored 9.925s on the balance beam, while Ella Burgess, Lexi Graber and Shallon Olsen all scored 9.9s
- Overall, Alabama posted 11 scores of 9.900-or-better, including two 9.975s
- Shallon Olsen has now led off Alabama's vault lineup the last four meets in a row, scoring a 9.900 each time
- Jordyn Paradise made her Crimson Tide debut on the uneven bars, scoring a 9.825
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.
Players Mentioned
