LSU defeated Auburn with a score of 198.300-197.10, showing dominance on all events, even those it has previously struggled with.
Aleah Finnegan scored her first 10 of the season, recording a new season high score on the floor. The No. 3 ranked Tigers earned their seventh win of the season, keeping their undefeated title at home.
But the Tigers’ were posting high scores even before Finnegan’s 10, especially on their dreaded balance beam routines.
Although the beam is known to be LSU’s weakness, it quickly turned into one of it’s strengths.
“We just got comfortable,” head coach Jay Clark said. “It’s just a natural progression with a team we know is good at everything.”
The Tigers posted a new high score of 49.725 on the beam, further solidifying their No. 3 ranking in the country.
READ MORE: PHOTOS: LSU gymnastics beats Auburn 198.300-197.10 in the PMAC
LSU ended with five scores of 9.925 or higher, outscoring Auburn by .425 in the third rotation.
Alexis Jeffery, Konnor McClain and Kiya Johnson scored 9.925, 9.975 and 9.950 respectively to lead the Tigers off.
Haleigh Bryant followed with another 9.950 before Finnegan anchored with a 9.925.
Despite it being their team’s lowest average score, the Tigers are still ranked ninth in the nation on the beam, making them a top 10 ranked team on every event for the first time this year.
The Tigers carried all of their momentum into the final rotation, the floor.
Amari Drayton and KJ Johnson put up 9.925s early into the rotation. After Finnegan’s 10, Bryant scored a 9.925. Olivia Dunne anchored for the first time this year, scoring a 9.850.
“Putting Liv out there got us a little more, even if it was just an extra tenth,” Clark said. “Her response to those situations has been spectacular.”
Even before the Tigers’ outstanding second half, their performances on vault and bars were executed with little to no flaws.
The Tigers started the night on vault, where they posted a score of 49.475, gaining an early lead to Auburn’s 49.100.
Finnegan stuck her first pass of the night, scoring a 9.950 to begin the meet. Drayton followed with a 9.90, and Savannah Schoenherr recorded a 9.875.
READ MORE: ‘Unapologetically us’: How the LSU Tiger Girls are building a legacy beyond the dance floor
Bryant anchored with a 9.90 to finalize the first rotation of the night. Auburn failed to post a score higher than 9.850 on the uneven bars.
LSU finalized the first half of the meet on the uneven bars, leading 98.950-98.350.
Tori Tatum competed for the first time since the Sprouts Farmers Market Collegiate Quad. She posted a 9.80, and sophomore Ashley Cowan followed with the first 9.90 of the rotation.
Schoenherr and Bryant ended the rotation with 9.925s.
“This is about us,” Clark said. “We’re gonna measure ourselves week after week after week based on what we do.”
Auburn came into the meet ranked at No. 12.
“Auburn is a very good team and they’re in a much better place than their ranking indicates,” Clark said earlier in the week. “We know that they are an opponent that is going to give us a good test.”
LSU answered with full force, putting up high numbers on all events.
“I don’t think we have a weak event,” Finnegan said.
LSU will travel to Gainesville for its next meet against Florida on Friday Feb. 23.
