Feb. 10, 2006
RALEIGH, N.C. - Despite scoring its second-lowest score of the season, the Auburn gymnastics team was able to claw out a win by .075 (193.400-193.325) over second-place NC State at the four-team Hearts Invitational on Friday at Reynolds Coliseum.
Auburn (5-7, 0-3 SEC) won individual titles in three of four events, including the all-around as Julie Dwyer continued her dominance with her fifth consecutive title.
"We got off to a great start and I'm really proud of junior walk-on Nicole Barnett, who set a career high on floor and tied Julie Dwyer for the team's high score," head coach Jeff Thompson said. "We had a great finish under pressure, but unfortunately, the problems on the middle two events much closer than anyone from Auburn would have liked."
After opening with a season-best 49.125 on floor, while setting two career highs and tying a season high, Auburn recorded two consecutive season lows on vault (48.150) and bars (47.650), before securing the win with a 48.475 on beam. The Tigers' score on beam was their third-highest mark of the season.
The win by the Tigers was their first victory in a quad since winning the New Hampshire Quad on Feb. 21, 2004, over New Hampshire, Temple and Yale.
Individually, the Tigers' three event wins came on vault, bars and beam. On vault, Lindsey Puckett won her second event title with a 9.825. Puckett won her first event title on vault at Kentucky. Aimee Goheen won her first event title of the year on bars with a 9.775. On beam, Dwyer recorded a 9.850 to win her fourth beam title of the year and 13th of the year, including her all-around win tonight.
With the second-place finish NC State moved to 5-4, 1-1 EAGL on the year. William & Mary (4-6-1, 1-0 ECAC) placed third with a 187.975 and James Madison (2-11-1, 0-1 ECAC) finished fourth with a 183.825.
"If nothing else, we learned a lot of lessons, Thompson said. "When we preach in practice about an extra step is a tenth, now after winning by only three-quarters on one tenth, they understand how important each tenth can be."
The meet began with Auburn on floor, host NC State on vault, James Madison on bars and William & Mary on beam. Unfortunately for Auburn, the Tigers second rotation on vault was
Competing on floor to open the Hearts Invitational, Auburn posted its highest score of the season with a 49.125. The Tigers' score is their highest since recording a 49.325 at Texas Women's on March 19, 2005. Competing for the second week in a row and just the second time in her career on floor, Nicole Barnett set a new career high with a 9.850. Dwyer tied Barnett for the top mark among the Tigers with a 9.850. Both Barnett's and Dwyer's scores of 9.850 tied for the third-highest score this season by the Tigers. Performing second on floor, Claire Seiffert set a new career high with a 9.800, topping the 9.750 she scored against Alabama. Lindsey Puckett recorded the second-highest score of her career with a 9.825. Competing third for the Tigers, Karmen Pinckney matched her season high with a 9.800.
At the conclusion of the first rotation, the Tigers held a 49.125-48.650 lead over second-place NC State.
After recording a season-high on floor, the Tigers competed on vault, where they scored a season-low 48.150. Puckett paced the Tigers on vault with a 9.825. Dwyer wrapped up the Tigers vault lineup with a 9.775. Holtz led off for Auburn with a 9.700. The Tigers also used scores of 9.650 by Pinckney and 9.200 by Kayla Gies.
Following the second rotation, Auburn remained in first with a score of 97.275. NC State was second with a 96.450.
Competing on bars in the third rotation Auburn posted a season-low 47.650. Aimee Goheen led the Tigers with her second straight 9.775. Performing second in the Tigers' lineup, Dwyer finished with a 9.750. Pinckney concluded the bars lineup for the Tigers with a 9.650. Shanna Somero led off for Auburn with a 9.250. Lindsey Puckett had a 9.225 on bars.
Heading into the final rotation on beam, Auburn continued to hold an edge over second-place NC State by just .650, 144.925-144.275.
On beam, the Tigers posted their third-highest score of the year with a 48.475. The Tigers were led by Dwyer, who scored a 9.850. Competing for the third time on beam, Alicia Lenkiewicz matched her career high with a 9.700. Gies and Barnett posted back-to-back scores of 9.650. Leading off for Auburn, Somero scored a 9.625.
The Auburn gymnastics team returns to action on Friday Feb. 17, when the Tigers travel to Baton Rouge, La., to face LSU at 7 p.m. Following the Tigers' match with LSU, Auburn will head to Shreveport, La., to face Centenary at 2 p.m Sunday.