The LSU gymnastics squad proved there’s no place like home after a shaky performance in Cancun, Mexico, last week.
The Lady Tigers (1-4, 1-0 Southeastern Conference) won Friday’s home opener against Auburn 195.025-193.800, at the PMAC, one week after a disappointing last-place showing at the Cancun Classic.
LSU led 146.075-145.675 heading into the final rotation, and two back-to-back scores of 9.900 on the floor from freshmen Rheagan Courville and Lloimincia Hall, combined with three Auburn falls on the balance beam, sealed the victory.
LSU took three of four events, faltering only on the uneven bars.  
“We saw a team tonight,” said LSU coach D-D Breaux. “Nothing shook them, and as the night progressed we got momentum going and had a real team effort.”
Along with Jessie Jordan, Hall and Courville, formed a trio of freshmen that helped guide the team to victory. Injuries barred sophomore Kaleigh Dickson from competing and limited sophomore Sarie Morrison to the uneven bars.
Hall posted a score of 39.200 to win the all-around title, and Jordan and Courville rounded out the top three all-around scores with marks of 39.025 and 38.925, respectively.
“I have it in my heart to do my very best,” Hall said. “I know I’m here for the team. It did my heart good for the team to win. It’s definitely an honor and I’m blessed to have this title in my [first] home meet. But to say LSU won is unbelievable.”
The results were markedly different when the two teams met in Mexico the week before. Auburn placed third with a score of 194.775, while LSU came in fifth by producing a 192.500, its lowest score in a meet since 1998. The squad suffered eight falls across the four different events.
“In preparation last week we felt we were really ready,” Breaux said. “We had some very consistent intersquads and everything was great leading up to the meet, even in warm-ups. But we had some falls in the second event and sometimes when that happens things start to tumble downhill.”
Known for her intensity, Breaux turned it up in practice the week following their trip to Cancun. Needing more from her upperclassmen, she particularly pushed juniors Ericka Garcia and Shelby Prunty, who were both coming off injuries. 
Garcia scored a 9.750 and Prunty marked a 9.800 to lead the Tigers on beam in the third rotation.
“The ones who had me most in their faces this week were those two,” Breaux said. “They thanked me after their dismounts.”
LSU will travel to Fayetteville, Ark., on Friday to take on Arkansas. 
 
 
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Contact Alex Cassara at [email protected]