© The No. 5 Alabama gymnastics team holds up signs showing their gratitude for the support from the students in attendance at Coleman Coliseum Friday night. (abc3340.com)TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- The No. 5 Alabama gymnastics team used a season-high score to beat No. 15 Auburn, 197.650-196.575 Friday night in Coleman Coliseum. Alabama used season-high scores on the vault, balance beam and floor exercise to post its 106th consecutive win over the Tigers.
"I'm just so proud of the ladies because I think this was the meet that we were looking for," UA head coach Sarah Patterson said. "We weren't perfect, but they stepped it up on all levels. Before tonight, we had done that in practice, but we just hadn't done it in competition yet. Tonight showed that this team can be one of the best in the country."
Matching 9.925 vaults by senior Marissa Gutierrez and junior Diandra Milliner led Alabama to a 49.475 team score. Senior Ashley Sledge scored a 9.9 and freshman Lauren Beers added a 9.875 on the vault
"It was a tough week in practice, a couple of us were sick and people were just trying to push through and do what they need to do to prepare us for tonight and I think we did it," Gutierrez said.
On the uneven bars, Sledge started the Tide off with a team-best 9.9, which led to a 49.250 team score. Junior Sarah DeMeo and senior Ashley Priess scored 9.875 and 9.85 respectively to finish off the rotation.
On the balance beam, Alabama tallied a 49.425 on the strength of 9.9s from sophomore Kayla Williams, DeMeo and junior Kim Jacob. Priess added a 9.875 while sophomore Kaitlyn Clark added a 9.85.
Alabama closed the night out with a 49.5 on the floor exercise where Gutierrez led the way with a 9.925. The Tide also garnered a 9.875 from Priess in the leadoff spot and 9.9s from Sledge, Milliner and Jacob.
Alabama (4-2, 4-2 SEC) returns to action next Friday in Fayetteville, Ark. against Arkansas.
Source: www.rolltide.com
