No. 9 Alabama Gymnastics Travels to Athens, Ga, to Compete Against No. 19 Georgia

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – The No. 9 Alabama gymnastics team will travel to Athens, Ga., to compete against No. 19 Georgia this Friday, Feb. 17. The meet will get underway at 6 p.m. CT in Stegeman Coliseum.

Alabama comes into the matchup 5-3 so far this season, with a 3-2 conference record, while Georgia is 6-7 overall with a 1-3 SEC record. The Crimson Tide and the Bulldogs competed in separate sessions of the Metroplex Challenge last Saturday, with Alabama earning a season-best 198.000 in the evening session and Georgia posting a 196.100 in the afternoon session.

Friday's contest will be broadcast live on SEC Network.

Head Coach Ashley Johnston said

"The rivalry between Alabama and Georgia is amazing, and it goes back years and years. That definitely gives us excitement and adrenaline going into this week, however, when we are in the moment all we can do is focus on what we can control and stay in our Bama bubble, and the rest will take care of itself. We're going to keep up our momentum from the past few weeks by focusing on the little details. We really look and analyze the things that went well and the things that didn't go as well and what we can do to improve in those areas. By staying in the process and focusing on what we can control, that is how I think we've been able to progress week after week."

Friday's Meet

The Crimson Tide and the Bulldogs last competed against each other in the regular season on March 6, 2022, at the Elevate the Stage contest in Birmingham, Ala., with Alabama winning the meet with a 198.000 and Georgia in fourth with a 196.200. The teams also faced off in a dual meet on Feb. 11, 2022, with Alabama winning 197.475-196.800 in Coleman Coliseum
The two programs account for 16 NCAA team titles, with the Crimson Tide winning six (1988, 1991, 1996, 2002, 2011 and 2012) and the Bulldogs taking 10 between 1987 and 2009
Alabama and Georgia also account for 26 Southeastern Conference titles, with the Crimson Tide winning its 10th in 2021 and the Bulldogs winning their 16th in 2008

Last Time Out

Alabama scored a season-best 198.000 to finish second of four teams at the Metroplex Challenge in Fort Worth, Texas, only finishing .125 behind the No. 1-ranked Oklahoma Sooners
All four of Alabama's rotation totals were 49.425-or-higher, with Alabama earning a 49.625 on the floor exercise and a 49.525 on the vault to go along with matching scores of 49.425 on the uneven bars and the balance beam
- The Crimson Tide's 49.625 on the floor exercise marked its second straight week with a score over 49.600, following its 49.700 against Auburn last Friday
Luisa Blanco scored a 39.675 in the all-around, with a 9.950 on floor exercise, 9.925 on the vault and a pair of 9.900s on the uneven bars and balance beam
Lilly Hudson scored a 39.550 in the all-around, marking her third consecutive week with an all-around total 39.550-or-higher following back-to-back 39.575s against Kentucky and Auburn
- Hudson scored a 9.950 on floor exercise, with one judge giving her a perfect 10.0 on the routine, a 9.900 on the uneven bars, a 9.875 on balance beam and a 9.825 on the vault
In Alabama's season-best 49.525 rotation on the vault, Makarri Doggette, Jordyn Paradise and Blanco all tied for the event title with matching scores of 9.925
The Crimson Tide posted 12 scores of 9.900-or-higher in the meet, with Doggette (9.925), Paradise (9.925) and Blanco (9.925) on the vault, Hudson (9.900), Doggette (9.900) and Blanco (9.900) on the uneven bars, Ella Burgess (9.900) and Blanco (9.900) on the balance beam, and Adams (9.900), Gladieux (9.950), Hudson (9.950) and Blanco (9.950) on the floor exercise

Up Next

After Friday's meet, Alabama will return home to compete against the LSU Tigers in Coleman Coliseum
The meet will get underway at 7 p.m. CT and will be streamed live on SEC Network+

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– UA –