Saturday, February 28, 2009

LSU Continues Streak Against Arkansas

The No. 6 LSU Tigers defeated the No. 9 University of Arkansas  196.150–195.800 Friday night in both team's final SEC matchup of the regular season.

LSU extended its winning streak to four-straight and moved to 11–2 overall and 4–2 in the SEC. Arkansas picked up its fourth loss of the season (6–4, 3–3 SEC.)

Despite the three-tenth victory, the Tigers weren't flawless and opened the door for Arkansas when they counted a fall on floor exercise.

"It was a hard meet, and if we would have let down anymore, then a very good Arkansas team would have beaten us," said LSU Head Coach D-D Breaux. "The fact of the matter is they didn't, and we had great performances from people throughout the night, but not one person had great events throughout."

LSU next competes against North Carolina State in the Etta James Memorial Meet on March 7.


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Sunday, February 22, 2009

Utes Post 197.525 to Lead the NCAA

The No. 1 University of Utah rolled over No. 15 Michigan Friday night 197.525–195.350 in Salt Lake City.

The Utes showed consistency hitting 30 of 30 routines, including exhibitions, on their way to the NCAA's best team score this season. 

Utah gymnasts placed first through fourth in the all and claimed every event title in front of a home crowd of 12,517.

"I told them this is the smallest, deepest team I've ever had," said Utah Head Coach Greg Marsden. "We have only 11 gymnasts— 10 when you consider that Beth (Rizzo) has been out since the first meet with an ankle injury."

The Utes have a week off before taking on Arizona State in Salt Lake City on March 6.


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Saturday, February 21, 2009

Florida Tops Alabama With Season High

The No. 6 University of Florida Gators defeated SEC rival and No. 8 University of Alabama Friday night 196.875–195.625. 

The Gators' team total was their highest this season, and the victory helped them improve to a winning 3–2 record in conference match-ups. 

Florida led the entire meet and took advantage of an Alabama fall in the final rotation to expand the lead to a dominant 1.250 by the end of the competition. 

"I thought they were calm, yet they were really confident and aggressive in their performance and were just really supportive of one another," said UF Head Coach Rhonda Faehn of the Gators. "That was wonderful to see."

Florida next meets the undefeated No. 2 University of Georgia on Feb. 28 in Athens, Ga.


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Friday, February 20, 2009

Georgia Squeaks Past Arkansas

The No. 2 University of Georgia narrowly edged the No. 7 University of Arkansas tonight in Fayetteville, 196.925–196.725. Georgia remains undefeated with nine wins this season.

Arkansas' performance challenges the dominance of reigning national champion Georgia this season and should boost Arkansas even further up the ranks. 

Arkansas co-head coach Rene Cook said she was pleased with her team's ability to compete with Georgia.

"We will see them again at SECs and hopefully in the postseason, and tonight's meet will be something for us to build on," Cook said.

Arkansas hits the road next weekend to meet another SEC opponent, LSU, in the last conference meet of the regular season.



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Sunday, February 15, 2009

Florida Hits Season High at Michigan

The No. 9 University of Florida Gators scored a season high 196.850 to top Michigan State Saturday in Lansing. Michigan scored a 194.775 in front of a home crowd of 1,222 on Valentine's Day. Florida was dominant throughout the competition, defeating Michigan on all four events.

Florida Head Coach Rhonda Faehn said the victory will give the Gators confidence after some early losses this season. Florida remains 2-2 in the SEC and advances to 4-2 overall.

The Gators opened their season with two critical wins against top 10 opponents Oklahoma and Auburn, but dropped losses to Arkansas and LSU in their next two road meets.

Against Michigan, Florida senior Corey Hartung secured her 14th career all-around win with a 39.45, and two Florida freshmen claimed their first career vault titles with matching 9.85s.

The Gators next take on SEC rival Alabama at home on Feb. 20. The Crimson Tide is ranked No. 5 and is the last SEC matchup of the season before Florida meets reigning national champion Georgia the following weekend.


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Saturday, February 14, 2009

LSU Upsets Alabama In Road Win

The No. 11 LSU Tigers defeated No. 5 Alabama 196.625–195.750 Friday night in Tuscaloosa, Ala. 

The Tigers performed at a level higher than their No. 11 ranking might indicate, leading the Crimson Tide through all four rotations. LSU looks poised to advance in the rankings while the Tide put in their worst performance on balance beam all season.

The win marked the Tigers' first at Alabama in 33 years and the first for current LSU Head Coach DD Breaux, who took her position in 1977.

It was also a big night for LSU senior Ashleigh Clare-Kearney, who notched a 39.500 all-around to earn her 100th career individual title. Clare-Kearney also took first on vault and floor.

LSU competes at home next weekend against North Carolina and Chicago-Illinois before facing the No. 7 Arkansas Razorbacks in their last big meet of the regular season on Feb. 27. 


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Friday, February 13, 2009

Auburn Breaks Arkansas' Momentum

The No 6. Auburn Tigers ended No. 7 Arkansas' three-meet winning streak in a 196.175-195.4 decision Friday night in Auburn. 

The loss was Arkansas' first of the season in the SEC and second overall, while Auburn moves to 2-2 in the SEC and 4-3 overall. 


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Sunday, February 8, 2009

LSU Beats Florida With Best Performance Yet

The No. 11 LSU Tigers defeated the No. 8 University of Florida Gators Saturday night, 196.8-195.825. The Tigers earned season highs on two events and their best team total of the year.

LSU moved to 7-2 overall, as Florida took its third loss of the season for a 3-3 record. The Tigers are now 2-2 in the SEC, just better than Florida's 1-2 SEC record.

Five SEC teams are currently ranked in the NCAA top 10, and LSU's win could move them ahead of Florida and Alabama in next week's poll. 

Several Tiger gymnasts set personal bests in the competition, including four athletes on bars. Head Coach D-D Breaux said the team's performance was closer to the way it had looked in practice.

LSU faces SEC rival and No. 9 Alabama next weekend and could climb even higher in overall rankings with a victory there.


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Saturday, February 7, 2009

Bama Breaks 197 in Decisive Victory Over Denver

The University of Alabama gymnastics team continued momentum Friday night with its fifth consecutive season high score and a 197.025- 193.35 win over the University of Denver. Alabama tallied season highs on three of the four events, including several individual career highs. 

The team total was Alabama's first this season above 197, putting them just more than two tenths below the NCAA high this season, held by the University of Georgia. 

Alabama becomes the fourth team to break 197 this year, inching closer to challenging the reigning NCAA champion Georgia Dogs who won in 2008 with a 197.45. 

The Crimson Tide went without the beam and floor routines of freshman Morgan Dennis, who was injured during vault warm-ups. Head Coach Sarah Patterson removed Dennis from the last two events to avoid further injury. Patterson said she was pleased with the strong performances of replacement Kassi Price.

Bama faces SEC rival LSU at home next week. The 11th-ranked Tigers have not scored above 196.575 this season.


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Friday, February 6, 2009

Utes Tune Up for Redemption 

The University of Utah Utes reached a position this week they haven't seen in four years– the No. 1 spot in NCAA gymnastics, overtaking No. 2 UCLA and No. 3 Georgia, the defending national champions. The Utes hope to achieve one more thing this year, however, by holding that spot 10 weeks from now when the NCAA Championship is on the line. 

That No. 1 spot couldn't have come at a better time. A time when they hope to dash Georgia's hope of winning five consecutive national titles in 2009. If they keep the Dogs from the No. 1 spot going into NCAA championships, it could set the stage for an epic showdown.

Since 2006, the Utes have finished second to the University of Georgia every year. They've suffered a 14-year drought since their last national title. First place eluded them for four entire  years, even though the program holds the NCAA records for national titles, wins and attendance. 

Utah Head Coach Greg Marsden has been there through it all. The records, the titles, the drought. Marsden is Utah's first and only coach in the program's 34 year history. He led them to 10 national titles. He has his sights firmly set on bringing bringing number 11 to Utah in 2009 and says retirement isn't in sight.

The Utes know second place well. First place now could mean first place by mid-April at the NCAA Championship, the end of an era for Georgia gymnastics and the beginning of Greg Marsden's comeback.



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