The LSU gymnastics team closed out the regular season with a 196.925–196.050 victory against N.C. State on Friday night in Raleigh, N.C.
The Tigers (10-4, 5-3 Southeastern Conference) tied for every individual title, and sophomore all-arounder Rheagan Courville brought home her eighth all-around title of the season — the most in the country — with a score of 39.550.
Courville tied for the balance beam title with a 9.850 and won the vault title with a career-high-tying 9.950. Courville and junior all-arounder Sarie Morrison both scored a 9.875 to tie for the uneven bars title, and sophomore all-arounder Lloimincia Hall won the floor exercise with a 9.900.
“[Our gymnasts] have done what we’ve asked, and that’s creating consistency,” said LSU coach D-D Breaux. “We did not have to count a fall or any major breaks, and we were very pleased with that.”
LSU had a comfortable lead heading into the final rotation until senior all-arounder Ericka Garcia started the balance beam event with a fall. The Tigers overcame the setback with a strong performance from the next five gymnasts, and they finished with a 49.100 team score on the event.
“We had five people hit beautiful beam routines after [Garcia’s fall],” Breaux said. “We went 49.100, which is a pretty good road score on beam when you’ve got a fall on the first person.”
LSU will travel to North Little Rock, Ark., for the SEC Championships on Saturday. The Tigers will more than likely go in as the No. 3 seed behind Florida and Alabama.
LSU is one of only two teams to beat No. 2 Florida this season, as it knocked off the Gators 196.875–196.575 the second week of the season. No. 4 Alabama bested the Tigers twice this season, with the Tigers totaling their lowest score of the season in the first defeat and their highest score of the season in the second loss.
“Any win helps us because we get experience,” Courville said. “It just builds our confidence. We really haven’t peaked yet, and that’s why we’re excited about SECs next weekend.”