Georgia Gymnastics: LSU Defeats Bulldogs

Fifth-ranked LSU used a 49.375 on floor in the final rotation to hold off seventh-ranked Georgia, 197.050-196.825, Friday night at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center.

The Tigers (9-3, 5-2 SEC) led throughout the meet, but Georgia (6-6-1, 4-2-1 SEC) got to within .075 going to the final rotation. The Gym Dogs then posted their second-highest beam score of the season, but it wasn’t enough to overcome LSU’s performance on floor.

“It was a good meet for us,” said UGA head coach Danna Durante. “I was proud of the way the team came in here and performed with a business-like approach. This will bump our RQS up, and we needed to do that tonight. I’m extremely proud of the way we performed on beam. It’s something we’ve really been working on, so it was good to see that pay off in this meet.”

The Gym Dogs started on bars with LSU on vault, and the Tigers led 49.5-49.25 after the first rotation. Brittany Rogers and Chelsea Davis led Georgia with a pair of 9.9s, while LSU had four scores of 9.9 or higher.

LSU extended its lead to 98.8-98.45 at the halfway point. The Tigers turned in a 49.3 on bars, while Georgia scored a 49.2 on vault. Davis registered her second 9.9 of the night to lead the team.

The Gym Dogs cut the deficit to .075 going to the final rotation by posting a 49.15 on floor, which was the highest road floor score of the season. Christa Tanella led the team with her sixth 9.875 on floor this season.

To close the meet, UGA turned in its second-best beam score of the season with a 49.225. Shayla Worley had a team-high 9.9, while Lindsey Cheek added a 9.875.

Georgia will return home to face No. 8 Utah in the 2013 home finale Saturday, March 9 at 6 p.m. The Gym Dogs’ four seniors – Kati Breazeal, Couch, Tanella and Worley – will be honored at the meet. Couch was held out of Friday’s meet after she suffered an injury earlier this week.

Team Results

1. LSU – 197.050 (VT – 49.5, UB – 49.3, BB – 48.875, FX – 49.375 )

2. Georgia – 196.825 (VT – 49.2, UB – 49.25, BB –49.225 , FX – 49.15)

Georgia’s Individual Results

Vault (49.2)

Chelsea Davis – 9.9, Sarah Persinger – 9.75, Cat Hires – 9.825, Brittany Rogers – 9.8, Lindsey Cheek – 9.85,

Brandie Jay – 9.825

Bars (49.25)

Lindsey Cheek – 9.8, Christa Tanella – 9.825, Brandie Jay – 9.425, Shayla Worley – 9.825, Brittany Rogers – 9.9,

Chelsea Davis – 9.9

Beam (49.225)

Sarah Persinger – 9.725, Kati Breazeal – 9.75, Lindsey Cheek – 9.875, Brittany Rogers – 9.85, Shayla Worley – 9.9, Kaylan Earls – 9.85

Floor (49.15)

Kaylan Earls – 9.8, Christa Tanella – 9.875, Sarah Persinger – 9.85, Brittany Rogers – 9.675, Shayla Worley – 9.775, Brandie Jay – 9.85

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