Jan. 30, 2009
AUBURN - Sixth-ranked Auburn (3-2, 1-1 SEC) topped No. 10 LSU (6-2, 1-2 SEC) 196.575-195.300 Friday night in Beard-Eaves-Memorial Coliseum behind consistent performances and from veterans and rookies, alike.
Friday night's victory gave Auburn earned its first win over LSU on its home mat since 2003.
"They're going out and doing what they do every day in practice, just with a bigger crowd in front of them," head gymnastics coach Jeff Thompson said. "We've been very consistent. When we have a little mistake, the next kid in the lineup grabs a hold of that rope and holds on. We haven't had to count a fall."
High scores were reached by both the team and multiple individuals. Auburn's 196.575 is the highest final score achieved this season and the Tigers posted season-high marks on vault (49.200), bars (49.150) and floor (49.300). Seven gymnasts matched or set career highs. The Tigers were again consistent, hitting 23-of-24 routines.
Puckett won vault (9.95), tied for first on beam (9.875) and claimed her third all-around title of her senior campaign by tying her career-high score of 39.550. Her 39.550 also ranks second on Auburn's all-time all-around scores.
"Things are really going great," Puckett said. "It's just so exciting, especially with a team like LSU. They came in and they fought hard. We came in and did our job and I did my job."
Auburn opened the meet on vault and received solid scores throughout the lineup. Freshman Allyson Sandusky, vaulting third, set a career-high 9.875 and senior A.J. Mills mirrored Sandusky's score in the No. 5 spot. Sandusky and Mills would tie for third on the event. Puckett anchored the rotation by matching a personal-best 9.95. The Tigers teamed together to post a 49.200, a score that ranks among the best in program history.
The second rotation sent the Tigers to bars, where a trio of gymnasts achieved personal-best scores to lead Auburn to its best showing on the event this season. Krissy Voss set the tone in the lead-off position, receiving a career-high 9.8. Sandusky and rookie counterpart Kendall Swartz each earned career marks with a 9.825 and 9.85, respectively. Swartz would finish as the bars runner-up, tied with teammate Mills.
Following the completed rotation, Auburn held a 98.350-98.175 advantage. LSU started with a 49.025 on bars and followed with a 49.150 on vault.
The only time that Auburn faltered during the night was midway through the beam rotation, but the Tigers rallied behind solid performances from Kylie Shields (9.75), Mills (9.825) and Puckett (9.875).
While on beam, LSU, the nation's 10th-ranked floor squad, tumbled to a 48.225. With one event to go, Auburn led 147.275-146.400.
Currently ranked as the nation's third-best floor team, Auburn looked to secure the victory on its best event with a strong showing on floor.
Carmen Nelms' lead-off score of 9.8 set the stage for senior Claire Seiffert's career-best 9.85 performance. Mills flipped to a 9.85 and Rachel Inniss and Puckett each earned 9.9s.
LSU closed out the night by recording a 48.900 on beam.
The Tigers will hit the road on Feb. 7 for a SEC contest against top-ranked Georgia at 3 p.m. CT. The meet will be televised by CSS and shown on tape delay Feb. 10 at 8 p.m. CT.
Vault - 49.200
Lauren Brzostowski 9.725
Kylie Shields 9.775
Allyson Sandusky 9.875
Krissy Voss 9.725
A.J. Mills 9.875
Lindsey Puckett 9.950
Uneven Bars - 49.150
Krissy Voss 9.800
Carmen Nelms 9.375
Allyson Sandusky 9.825
Kendall Swartz 9.850
Lindsey Puckett 9.825
A.J. Mills 9.850
Balance Beam - 48.925
Lauren Brzostowski 9.700
Katie Hurley 9.775
Rachel Inniss 9.175
Kylie Shields 9.750
A.J. Mills 9.825
Lindsey Puckett 9.875
Floor Exercise - 49.300
Carmen Nelms 9.800
Krissy Voss 9.775
Claire Seiffert 9.850
Rachel Inniss 9.900
A.J. Mills 9.850
Lindsey Puckett 9.900
All-Around
Lindsey Puckett 39.550
A.J. Mills 39.400