March 2, 2007
AUBURN -
The No. 14 Auburn Tigers scored a 49.000 or better in three rotations, but it was not enough to overcome No. 12 Arkansas in a 196.325-195.400 loss on Friday at Beard-Eaves-Memorial Coliseum.
This marked the fourth meet in five weeks in which the Auburn's opponent has scored a season high with their team total.
The Tigers once again managed to put together three solid rotations, but faltered in their second rotation on bars and could never mount a comeback.
"We look so solid in practice," head coach Jeff Thompson said. "We are just having a tough time translating that into the meets. We will keep working hard in the gym, and get it squared away by next weekend."
Auburn was without the service of freshman all arounder, Krissy Voss, who was out due to sickness.
A.J. Mills took the all around title, the first of her career, with a 39.375. The sophomore also tied for first on beam (9.900) and floor (9.875), while also placing in a tie for second on bars (9.825).
Julie Dwyer tied for first on vault (9.875), bars (9.850) and beam (9.900), bringing her career total to 51 and her season total to 14.
Claire Seiffert also had a stellar meet, recording two scores that tied career highs. She placed in a tie for third on vault (9.850) and totaled a 9.825 on floor.
Lindsey Puckett also placed, finishing in a tie for third on vault (9.850), while also placing second in the all around with a 39.300.
The Tigers opened the dual meet on vault by tying a season high with a score of 49.150. Dwyer led the way with a 9.875, while Seiffert and Puckett each posted a 9.850. The score by Seiffert tied a career high which she last posted on Feb. 17, 2006 at LSU. Carmen Nelms totaled her second highest score of the year with a 9.800, and Mills and Karmen Pinckney each chipped-in a 9.775.
On the second rotation, with Auburn leading 49.150-48.925, AU totaled a season low 48.075 on bars. The Tigers were led by Dwyer's 9.850, followed by a 9.825 by Mills and a 9.800 from Puckett. AU also had to count a 9.400 by Alicia Lenkiewicz and a 9.200 from Pinckney after her fall.
Trailing 98.050-97.225, the Tigers headed into the third rotation where they posted a 49.175 on beam, tying for its highest score of the season. Dwyer and Mills each registered a 9.900, which tied for the second highest of the season for each gymnast. Somero, who led off for AU, recorded a season high 9.825. Nelms and Puckett each rounded out the scoring with 9.775's.
Auburn headed into the final rotation, down 147.100-146.400, and posted a 49.000. Puckett and Mills each recorded a 9.875 to lead the Tiger charge. For Mills, that marked a career high, while it was a season high for Puckett. Claire Seiffert scored a 9.825 to tie her career high, while Pinckney followed with a 9.725 and Somero totaled a 9.700 in her first floor performance of the season.
The Tigers will hit the road for a pair of matches next weekend in Illinois. Auburn will face Illinois on Friday at 7 p.m., then travel to the Windy City to take on Illinois-Chicago on Sunday at 2 p.m.