Jan. 25, 2008
Auburn, Ala. - Auburn gymnasts Lindsey Puckett and A.J. Mills combined for first place in three events, but it was not enough for the No. 17 Tigers who fell 195.250-194.750 to No. 1 Florida.
"I'm sure a lot of people will look at this score and think how great the Tigers must have done in order to come so close to defeating the No. 1 Gators. What they can't tell from the score is that we easily could have won this meet had we just competed like we practice," said Auburn head coach Jeff Thompson.
Auburn led Florida after the first two rotations 97.875-97.825. The Tigers got the meet off to a strong start hitting six-of-six vaults. Puckett scored a career high 9.900, tying for first. A.J. Mills led the meet on bars scoring 9.850. Puckett also held the highest score on floor with a 9.850.
Auburn's Claire Seiffert improved from last week's competition, scoring a 9.825 vault and 9.775 on floor, both in the leadoff position.
"Claire Seiffert redeemed herself from last week with an amazing vault to get us started and finished her night by also getting us off to a great start on floor," Thompson said. "We are all very proud of her."
After the third rotation, with Auburn on beam and Florida on floor, the Gators pulled ahead of the Tigers by .05. In the final rotation the Gators won the meet scoring 49.125 on beam to the Tigers' 48.675 on floor.
The Tigers will be back in action in Sunday, Feb. 3. Auburn will travel to Raleigh, N.C., to face North Carolina State, George Washington and Texas Women's University.
"The NC State meet comes at a great time in our schedule. Since it is a Sunday meet, it will allow us a few extra days of practice this week to work on finishing the way we start."
Auburn will return to the Plains on Feb. 15 to face No. 2 Georgia at 7 p.m. Admission is $5 for adults and $2 for children. Advance tickets can be purchased at www.auburntigers.com.
Results
Auburn Vault:49.100
Claire Seiffert: 9.825
Kayla Gies: 9.725
A.J. Mills: 9.800
Krissy Voss: 9.700
Lindsey Puckett: 9.900
Julie Dwyer: 9.850
Auburn Bars:48.775
Kayla Gies: 8.850
Carmen Nelms: 9.700
Krissy Voss: 9.725
Lindsey Puckett: 9.750
A.J. Mills: 9.850
Julie Dwyer: 9.750
Auburn Beam: 48.200
Gies:9.700
Voss:9.550
Hurley:9.725
Puckett:9.325
Mills:9.675
Dwyer:9.550
Auburn Floor: 48.675
Seiffert:9.775
Voss:9.700
Hurley:9.650
Mills:9.400
Puckett:9.850
Dwyer:9.700
Florida Vault: 49.350
Courtney Gladys:9.875
Nicola Willis:9.900
Lynn Denblyden:9.700
Tiffany Murry:9.850
Ashley Reed:9.875
Amanda Castillo:9.850
Florida Bars:48.475
Nicola Willis:9.775
Maranda Smith:9.750
Ashley Reed:9.775
Amanda Castillo:9.275
Corey Hartung:9.750
Melanie Sinclair:9.425
Florida Beam:49.125
Rebekah Zaiser:9.750
Nicola Willis:9.750
Melanie Sinclair:9.800
Ashley Reed:9.850
Corey Hartung:9.850
Amanda Castillo:9.875
Florida Floor:48.300
Courtney Gladys:8.975
Rebekah Zaiser:9.150
Tiffany Murry:9.725
Ashley Reed:9.775
Corey Hartung:9.800
Amanda Castillo:9.850