BATON ROUGE – LSU’s gym team in second place (4-1, 3-1 SEC) won over 198 points in a thriller against No. 1 Florida (5-0, 4-0 SEC) on Friday night within the PMAC.
The Tigers scored 198,050 in the defeat to the Gators, who scored 198,150. The scores marked the best in the country this year.
LSU used 13 scores of 9,925 to obtain the 13th best score in school history. Tigers won 49,600 on the jump and 49,550 on the bars and crossbar. All three season records set for the team.
“It was an incredible weight boxing match,” said the LSU Gymnastics coach Jay Clark said. “I am proud of our children. They fought face to face with probably one of the best teams in Florida I have ever seen. I have nothing but positive things to say about the way they fought and left everything out there tonight.”
Tigers lead the jump
LSU opened strong in the jump with 49,600, the country’s best score so far this year. Alyona Shchennikova scored 9,925 and Elena Erenas scored 9,85. On his return to competition, Sarah Edwards scored 9,925. In the final two routines, Kiya Johnson and Haleigh Bryant each won 9.95.
LSU keeps rolling on the bars
The Tigers built their strong start with a high season of 49.55 on the bars, 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 9.85 and 9.875. Shchennikova and Sami Dirante senior ended the season high with 9.95.
Tigers stay on top through the beam
LSU posted another 49.55 on the beam to stay on top of the Gators for three rotations. Christina Desiderio matched his high season on the crossbar, starting the Tigers with a 9.90. Durante and Bryant followed with a 9,925 and 9,875, respectively. Senior Bridget Dean and the second year Johnson completed the strong rotation, each scoring a score of 9.925.
Selection reaches 198 for the first time this year
Dean stepped in first place on the floor and won a 9.875, followed by Desiderio with a 9.75. Shchennikova scored a 9,925 to match his career record. In his second career floor performance, Sierra Ballard set a career record of 9,925. Edwards scored 9,875 to give LSU 49,350.
Next
LSU will return to action to face Alabama at 19:30 CT Friday in Tuscaloosa. The meeting will be broadcast live on SEC Network + through WatchESPN.com and the app.