BATON ROUGE – The second place LSU Gymnastics team (4-1, 3-1 SEC) took a team score of 198 points on Friday night in a thriller against No. 1 Florida (5-0, 4-0 SEC) in the PMAC .
The Tigers scored a 198,050 in the loss to the Gators, who scored a 198,150. The scores were the best in the country this year.
LSU used 13 scores out of 9,925 to get the 13th best score in school history. The Tigers earned 49,600 on vault and 49,550 on bars and beam. All three marked season heights for the squad.
“That was a great match and a heavyweight boxing match,” said LSU Gymnastics head coach Jay Clark said. “I’m proud of our kids. They fought toe to toe with probably one of the best Florida teams I’ve ever seen. I have nothing but positive things to say about the way they fought and I left it all tonight. . “
Tigers lead on vault
LSU opened strongly on the jump with a 49,600, the best jump score in the country to date this year. Alyona Shchennikova scored a 9.925 and Elena Erenas scored a 9.85. In her return to the competition, Sarah Edwards scored a 9.925. In the last two routines, Kiya Johnson and Haleigh Bryant each earned a 9.95.
LSU continues to roll on bars
The Tigers built their strong start with a season high of 49.55 on bars for the second highest score in the country. Johnson opened with a 9.92 to set the tone. The freshmen Olivia Dunne and Bryant followed with a 9.85 and 9.875. Shchennikova and senior Sami Dirante ended the season high with a 9.95.
Tigers stay at the top by beam
LSU placed another 49.55 on the bar to stay on top of the Gators for three rotations. Christina Desiderio adjusted her season high on the bar, starting the Tigers with a 9.90. Durante and Bryant followed with 9,925 and 9,875 respectively. Senior Bridget Dean and sophomore Johnson closed the rotation sharply, each with a 9,925.
Squad goes to 198 for the first time this year
Dean took first place on the floor and earned a 9.875, followed by Desiderio with a 9.75. Shchennikova scored a 9.925 to match her career high. In her performance on the second floor, Sierra Ballard scored a career-high 9,925. Edwards scored a 9,875 to give LSU a 49,350.
Next one
LSU will return to the action to meet Alabama in Tuscaloosa at 7:30 p.m. CT Friday. The meeting will be streamed live on SEC Network + via WatchESPN.com and the app.