AUBURN, Ala. -- Sixth-ranked Georgia turned in its highest road score of the season and defeated No. 10 Auburn 196.875-196.100 Friday night at Auburn Arena.
The Gym Dogs (4-4, 3-2 SEC) jumped out to an early lead and closed the meet by hitting all six beam routines to clinch their first road win of the season.
"I'm pleased overall and glad that we started strong and finished strong," UGA head coach Danna Durante said. "I'm proud of this group. They've been training hard in the gym the last two weeks, and they've been much more intentional as a team. This team competed strong and confident tonight."
The Gym Dogs opened the meet with a 49.5 on bars - their second-highest score away from home this season. Chelsea Davis placed first with a 9.95 in the anchor position, while Brandie Jay, Lindsey Cheek and Brittany Rogers added three 9.9s.
Georgia extended its lead to 98.725-98.125 with a 49.225 on vault in the second rotation. Jay and Cheek tied for first with a pair of back-to-back 9.9s.
UGA again stretched the lead with a 48.9 on floor in the third rotation, while Auburn had to count a fall on beam. Freshman Morgan Reynolds turned in a team-high 9.85.
The Gym Dogs closed the meet by hitting all six routines on beam to score a 49.250. Cheek led the team with a 9.875, while Rogers, Brown and Kaylan Earls turned in three 9.85s.
Jay tied her career-high on bars and her season-high on vault with a pair of 9.9s.
No. 1 Oklahoma 197.200, No. 5 Alabama 197.100, No. 7 Michigan 196.200 at Perfect 10 Challenge
OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. -- Top-ranked Oklahoma battled to a first-place finish at the 2014 Perfect 10 Challenge at the Cox Convention Center Arena Friday night. OU eked out a 197.200 victory against No. 5 Alabama (197.100), No. 7 Michigan (196.200) and West Virginia (193.525).
The meet was a competitive contest across the board, with each team winning at least one event title. Haley Scaman earned OU's lone individual victory of the evening in a 9.925 floor routine.
The Sooners got off to a solid start on vault, earning a 49.350. Despite not breaking the 49.400 threshold for the first time this season, OU saw strong performances across the board. The fourth-ranked vaulter in the nation, Haley Scaman continued her streak of 9.9+ efforts with a 9.9 in the No. 5 spot. Maile'ana Kanewa earned a 9.875, and Kara Lovan tied her career-high of 9.875 with a strong vault for Oklahoma.
The Sooners established an immediate lead following one rotation. The squad's 49.350 was tops, followed by Alabama (49.225), Michigan (48.350) and West Virginia (48.225).
Oklahoma earned a 49.225 in the second rotation, paced by a team-high 9.875 from senior Taylor Spears. The trio of Keeley Kmieciak, Rebecca Clark and McKenzie Wofford were also key for the Sooners, each earning 9.85 performances to aid the lineup.
OU extended its lead by a slight margin after the second event, holding a 98.575 to pace all teams. Alabama maintained its position in second (98.300), Michigan sat third (97.475) and West Virginia came in at fourth overall (97.350).
The Sooners picked up another solid outing on beam with a 49.300, led by Rebecca Clark's team-best 9.925. Freshman Chayse Capps earned a 9.9 with a fluid routine in the No. 3 position, while junior Erica Brewer earned a 9.85 in the No. 4 spot. Oklahoma's 49.300 was a meet-best among all four teams by a solid margin of .225.
Oklahoma kept rolling after three events, leading the meet with a 147.875. Alabama stayed on OU's heels with a 147.550, while Michigan used a strong outing on vault to boost their team score to 146.900. West Virginia brought up fourth at 147.875.
The squad moved to floor knowing it would need a strong rotation take home the victory. The Sooners attacked floor, earning a 49.325 to edge out Alabama and take home a win. Scaman's team-high 9.925 led the way, clinching the victory in the final meet of the evening for the Sooners after a fall. Lovan's strong night continued as she earned a 9.9 on the even, her second in two weeks, and Brewer picked up a key 9.85 at the No. 3 spot.
Oklahoma went blow-for-blow with Alabama in the final rotation and emerged victorious with a 197.200. The Crimson Tide took second at 197.100, Michigan came in third with a 196.200 and West Virginia earned fourth at 193.525.
No. 2 Florida 198.125, No. 3 LSU 197.625
GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- Florida won the eighth annual Gators Link to Pink meet against LSU in front of a Stephen C. O’Connell Center crowd of 9,197. Florida turned in a season-best 198.125 and the Tigers posted a 197.625. The 198.125 is the nation’s second-highest total of 2014, just a fraction behind the 198.175 No. 1 Oklahoma turned in last Saturday.
Junior All-American Kytra Hunter finished Florida’s vault rotation Friday with the same score she earned a week ago – a 10.0. It was the second back-to-back vault 10.0s for Florida and the first in 16 years.
Hunter was just a fraction away from turning in her second perfect mark of the evening, as she won floor at 9.975. Gator sophomore Bridget Sloan took the balance beam win at 9.95 and also claimed her sixth-consecutive all-around title at 39.70. She is the defending NCAA champion for both events.
The Gators trailed the Tigers by 0.05 at the midway point of the meet. Florida’s season-best of 49.55 on balance beam gave UF a slender 0.075 lead heading into floor exercise. On its finishing event, Florida tallied a meet-high event total of 49.65, a total which makes UF the nation’s only team to turn in two floor totals of 49.65 or better this season. The Gators set their school record with a 49.875 on Jan. 24 – a total which is the nation’s highest on any event since 2006.LSU junior Rheagan
Courville was the all-around runner-up at 39.675. She shared the evening’s uneven bars title with teammate Sarie Morrison at 9.95.
It was the eighth annual Gators Link to Pink meet.
