Feb. 3, 2006
AUBURN, Ala. - In pursuit of its third straight home victory over No. 5 Florida, No. 17 Auburn posted its highest team score of the season, but it was not enough as the Gators held on for a 196.000-195.725 victory over the Tigers on Friday at Beard-Eaves-Memorial Coliseum.
Entering its final rotation on floor trailing by .125 (146.975-146.850), Auburn was in need of a solid performance, and the Tigers got just that by recording their second-highest score of the year with a 48.950. Unfortunately for the Tigers, the Gators did not miss a step on their final rotation on beam, as they also notched their second-highest score of the year with a 49.000 to secure the victory.
"We had probably as good of a night as we could have," head coach Jeff Thompson said. "Going back to the very first event on vault, everybody had a step and Florida did not have any steps, and that was the difference in the meet. The fact that they could go to beam under that kind of pressure and hit beam, shows they are a well-coached team. Hats off to them because we put them under as much pressure as we could and they did not fold."
Auburn (2-7, 0-3 SEC) posted its second-highest score of the season in all four events, and the Tigers posted 13 season or career highs in the loss. The Tigers' team score of 195.725 was their highest since also notching a 195.725 against Iowa and North Carolina on March, 12 2005.
Florida (5-2, 1-2 SEC) outscored the Tigers in three of four events and won the individual crown in three of four events.
Auburn's lone event victory came on bars, where the Tigers posted a 48.900, topping the Gators' mark of 48.850.
Individually, Julie Dwyer won her fourth consecutive all-around title, as she matched her career high of 39.375 for the fourth time in her career and third time this season. The Bloomington, Ind., native won Auburn's lone individual crown on beam with a career-high 9.925.
Lindsey Puckett finished third in the all-around after placing second on beam and third on vault and floor. Puckett finished with scores of 9.850 on beam and floor, which tied career highs.
Opening on vault, the Tigers tied their second-highest score of the year with a 48.950. Lindsey Puckett vaulted a 9.825 to pace the Tigers. Karmen Pinckney scored her second-highest mark of the year with a 9.800. Julie Dwyer, Kayla Gies and Claire Seiffert each scored a 9.775. Seiffert's score matched her career high. Danielle Holtz opened the event for the Tigers by posting a season-high 9.725.
Entering the second rotation on bars, Auburn led Florida, 48.950-48.850. The Tigers posted their second-highest score of the year for the second straight event, finishing with a 48.900. Dwyer and Pinckney led the way for the Tigers by each recording a 9.800 on bars. Alicia Lenkiewicz scored a career high with a 9.775. Matching Lenkiewicz was Puckett, who also notched a 9.775.
After leading through the first rotation for the second straight meet, the Tigers once again were victim to another solid vault score of 49.175. Florida's vault score gave the Gators a 98.025-97.850 entering the third rotation.
On beam, the Tigers posted their second-highest score of the year for the third straight event with a 49.000. All six of the gymnasts either topped or matched their season or career highs. Dwyer led the Tigers on beam with a career-high mark of 9.925. Puckett tied her career high for the third time this year, by scoring a 9.850 to lead the Tigers. Kayla Gies matched her career high with a 9.775. Earlier this year, Gies also had a 9.775 vs. West Virginia. Shanna Somero led off the event with a season-high 9.750. Performing just the second beam routine of her collegiate career- Lenkiewicz set a career high with a 9.700. Nicole Barnett also had the highest score of the season, recording a 9.650.
Entering the fourth and final rotation on floor, Auburn trailed the Gators by just .125 (146.975-146.850). Julie Dwyer paced Auburn on floor for the second consecutive meet, scoring a 9.875. For the second meet in a row, Puckett tied her career high with a 9.850. Danielle Holtz opened the event with a season-best 9.800, topping her Alabama score of 9.725. Going third on floor, Karmen Pinckney finished with a 9.700. Competing for the first time in her career on floor, Nicole Barnett finished with a 9.650.
Up next for Auburn is a trip to Raleigh, N.C., for the Hearts Invitational on Friday, Feb. 10 at 7 p.m. At the meet, the Tigers will face NC State, William & Mary and James Madison.