LSU won the second round of the NCAA women’s gymnastics regionals with a score of 197.80 on Thursday in Fayetteville, Arkansas. The Tigers will advance to the NCAA Regional Finals on Saturday.
In a competition against BYU, Oregon State and No. 15 Minnesota, the No. 2 Tigers dominated the meet in almost all areas.
LSU posted one of its highest scores ever on the floor. All gymnasts finished with scores of 9.90 or higher, including a perfect 10 from Aleah Finnegan.
“Floor is kind of our hallmark,” head coach Jay Clark said. “I knew if they could finish off on that event it would kind of propel them into the next day.”
The freshman duo of Konnor McClain and Amari Drayton started things off for the Tigers with 9.90s. KJ Johnson followed with a 9.950, and after Finnegan’s 10, Bryant scored a 9.950.
Kiya Johnson was originally supposed to anchor for the Tigers, but head coach Jay Clark subbed in Olivia Dunne at the last minute. Dunne scored a 9.90.
“We pulled Kiya out in the end not because of anything particular,” Clark said. “We knew the meet was at hand and we needed to go easy on her body.”
Since LSU was the highest seed, it had the privilege of performing in the Olympic order.
The Tigers didn’t take advantage of the vault start. Unable to stick any landings, LSU finished the first rotation in second place.
KJ Johnson, Finnegan, Drayton and Savannah Schoenherr led off with four 9.850s, an uncharacteristic score for the Tigers. Chase Brock pulled the Tigers out of their slump with the first 9.90 of the meet, and Bryant anchored with a 9.925.
Minnesota ended their floor rotation with a score of 49.50. LSU followed with 49.375. BYU finished on uneven bars with 49.050 points and Oregon State trailed with 48.625.
The Tigers then moved to uneven bars.
Alexis Jeffrey led off with a 9.850, and sophomore Ashley Cowan followed with a stellar 9.90. Kiya Johnson performed her first routine of the night, scoring a 9.850, and McClain followed with a 9.875.
Schoenherr stuck her landing, posting a 9.90, and Bryant’s 9.825 was dropped, an unusual sighting for LSU.
Oregon State’s Jade Carey dominated the second rotation, posting the first perfect score of the night on floor. Despite her great performance, the Beavers remained in fourth.
LSU took the lead after the second rotation with a score of 98.750. Minnesota trailed by .025, and BYU came in third with 98.250.
Sierra Ballard started off the second half of the meet on beam for LSU. Ballard’s 9.850 was followed by Schoenherr’s 9.875. McClain posted a 9.925, Bryant followed with a 9.80, and Finnegan anchored with a 9.875.
LSU remained in the lead with 148.075, with Minnesota, BYU and Oregon State trailing.
“I’m very pleased,” Clark said. “This whole thing is just to get here and get to the next day.”
Since the top two teams advance to the NCAA Regional Finals, Minnesota will progress with LSU to Saturday’s matchup.
“They came in here and adjusted,” Clark said. “They should be very free of mind when we get back in here on Saturday.”
