Ashleigh Gnat's perfect vault was part of a historic afternoon for LSU.
BATON ROUGE, La. — In front of the third-largest crowd in school history, No. 2 LSU defeated No. 3 Florida, 198.150-196.600, to capture the Southeastern Conference regular-season title Sunday afternoon at the Maravich Center.
The Tigers, which totaled the third-highest score in school history against the Gators, improved to 12-1 for the season and extended its streak inside the PMAC to 27-0 since 2014. With a perfect 7-0 record in league meets, LSU claimed the first ever SEC regular season title awarded by the conference.
HISTORY!!!!
— LSU Gymnastics (@LSUgym) March 5, 2017
LSU claims the first ever @SEC Regular Season Title with a team score of 198.150. The third-highest score in school history!!! pic.twitter.com/8nJSsecr4F
Senior Ashleigh Gnat almost blew the roof off of the PMAC in the anchor spot of vault with the eight perfect score of her career for the event title.
“It’s an honor to capture the SEC title,” Gnat said. “We have worked so hard inside and outside of the gym. I am just proud to be a part of this team. The crowd today was amazing and we are excited to get to the back half of the season and keep going.”
PERFECT!
— LSU Gymnastics (@LSUgym) March 5, 2017
pic.twitter.com/5GNWdvp9HZ
D-D on the historic win
“I am so proud of this team, and so confidant in their preparation and commitment to LSU and to this team,” head coach D-D Breaux said. “They are such a kind and consistent group of ladies. It’s a pleasure to be in the gym with them every single day. Today they sustained such intense momentum from the first vault to the last floor performance. It was absolutely the most gratifying feeling ever for me.”
Gnat captures vault title with perfection
The Tigers opened up with a 49.625 on vault and never looked back. The score tied for the third-highest vault score in school history. Sarah Finnegan and Myia Hambrick led off with a pair of 9.875s.
Senior Sydney Ewing tied her season-high with a 9.925 and freshman Ruby Harrold also tied her career high with a 9.925. Fellow freshman Kennedi Edney earned a 9.90 in the fifth spot of the lineup. Gnat closed out the first rotation with the perfect 10 for her 20th career vault title.
Priessman, Finnegan win bars
LSU continued its strong start with a 49.425 on bars. Shae Zamardi led off with a 9.85. Harrold totaled a 9.875 and Edney added a 9.85. Finnegan and Lexie Priessman wrapped up the event with a pair of 9.925s to share the bars title.
Macadaeg matches career high in leadoff
One of the best beam leadoff performers in the nation, junior Erin Macadaeg captured the event title with a 9.95 to tie her career high. Hambrick followed with a 9.90 in the second spot. Ewing and Lauren Li earned scores of 9.85 and Gnat anchored the event with a 9.925 to push the total to 49.475 for beam.
Floor closes out meet with season-high
LSU closed out afternoon with a season-high 49.625 for the fourth-highest floor score in school history. Ewing led off with a 9.925 on the event to tie her career high. Hambrick and Finnegan also earned scores of 9.925 in the third and fourth spot. McKenna Kelley earned a 9.90 and Gnat anchored the lineup with a 9.95 to secure her 19th career floor title.
