March 17, 2006
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - On an evening where fifth-ranked Alabama honored its seniors on Senior Night and set a Southeastern Conference season attendance record, the Crimson Tide was able to ride the emotional high past No. 14 Auburn, 196.400-194.850, in front of 10,800 on Friday at Coleman Coliseum.
"I'm really proud of the team's performance as a whole in a tough environment on Senior Night in front 10,800," head coach Jeff Thompson said. "We had some unexpected first-routine mistakes that may have put the other gymnasts under more pressure than normal. Whatever the reason, we weren't as sharp as we needed to be to give Alabama a challenge."
Alabama (14-1, 6-1 SEC) was able to outscore the Tigers (8-10, 1-6 SEC) in all four events, while winning three of four individual event titles and the all-around.
Individually, Julie Dwyer earned her 24th event title of the season, as she scored a 9.900 on beam for the Tigers' lone individual title. Dwyer also tied for second on bars with a 9.800, while finishing third with an all-around score of 39.225.
Auburn opened the meet slow, recording a 48.375 on vault. After posting career highs on bars in each of the last three meets, Julie Dwyer did not set a new career best against Alabama, but she did pace the Tigers with a 9.800. Lindsey Puckett recorded a 9.675. Following Puckett, Karmen Pinckney scored a 9.650. A.J. Mills matched Pinckney's score with another 9.650. Alicia Lenkiewicz closed the event for the Tigers with a 9.60. First in the lineup for Auburn, Aimee Goheen scored a 9.550.
Alabama recorded its second-highest score of the year on vault to take an early 49.375-48.375 lead after the first rotation.
On the second rotation on vault, the Tigers matched their fifth-highest score of the season with a 49.025. The Tigers mixed up the lineup on vault against Alabama, as Shanna Somero led off for the Tigers for the first time this season. Vaulting fifth in the lineup, Puckett led the Tigers with a 9.875. Kayla Gies matched her career high with a 9.850 as she vaulted fourth for the Tigers. Anchoring the Tigers, Dwyer vaulted a 9.850 to match Gies. Karmen Pinckney scored a 9.800. Performing second, Claire Seiffert posted a 9.650. Somero scored a 9.150 in what was her first competitive vault since the 2004 season.
Following the second rotation, the Tigers made a dent in Alabama's lead and trailed the Crimson Tide, 98.275-97.400. Alabama posted a 48.900 in its second rotation on bars.
Performing on floor in the third rotation, Auburn posted its second-lowest score of the season with a 48.450 after the Tigers had two-tenths in deductions for stepping out of bounds. Puckett matched her score against Illinois-Chicago with a 9.775 for the second straight meet. Seiffert performed second for the Tigers, notching a 9.725. Anchoring the Tigers' lineup, Dwyer recorded a 9.675.Nicole Barnett scored a 9.650 for the Tigers. Pinckney performed third for the Tigers, scoring a 9.625. Performing in her only event for the Tigers on the night, Danielle Holtz scored a 9.025.
Entering the fourth rotation, Alabama led 147.375-145.850. In the third rotation, Alabama scored a 49.100 on beam.
On beam in the final rotation, the Tigers recorded a 48.900. Dwyer rebounded from her floor routine to lead the Tigers with a 9.900 on beam. Puckett recorded a 9.825 for the third meet in a row in the fifth spot in the Tigers' lineup. Lenkiewicz posted the second-highest score of her career with a 9.750. Performing first on beam Somero recorded a 9.725. Gies went second for the Tigers, scoring a 9.700. A.J. Mills posted a 9.675.
Alabama posted a 49.05 to conclude the meet on floor.
Up next for the Tigers is a trip to Birmingham, Ala., for the 2006 SEC Championship on March 25 at 6:05 p.m.