Feb. 7, 2009
ATHENS, Ga. - Fifth-ranked Auburn suffered a 197.250-195.925 loss to third-ranked Georgia in front of a sellout crowd of 10,224 in Stegeman Coliseum Saturday afternoon. Despite the loss, the Tigers hit 23-of-24 routines and did not have a fall.
"We're really proud of the team for competing in front of a sold out Georgia crowd without any big mistakes," head gymnastics coach Jeff Thompson said. "We weren't great though, as we made some uncharacteristic, small mistakes at times which really hurt our overall score in the end. It's encouraging to look at the score sheet and know that when we add back all of our steps on landings and dismounts, we easily have the potential of scoring a 197 the rest of the season."
Georgia improved to 6-0 and 2-0 in Southeastern Conference action, while Auburn evened its overall mark to 3-3 and fell to 1-2 in league competition.
"We knew when Georgia scored a 195 on the road last weekend that we were going to be in for a long night," Thompson said. "It's not often that they have two bad meets back-to-back. That and they haven't lost at home since 2005."
Lindsey Puckett finished as the all-around runner-up, posting a 39.325, and senior counterpart A.J. Mills placed third with a 39.125. For the first time in her career, rookie Kylie Shields competed on three events, bars, vault and beam. A regular competitor on vault and beam, it was Shields bars debut. She also exhibitioned on floor.
"Lindsey was awesome and she was consistent," Thompson said. "A.J. had a few mistakes, but she's consistent and I have no doubt that she'll rebound for next week. We're thrilled with Kylie Shields hitting on all four events tonight as a freshman. She will be an important part of our postseason run."
Auburn opened the afternoon on bars, combining for a 48.825. Mills and Krissy Voss led the rotation posting a 9.825 and 9.8, respectively. Voss' 9.8 matched a career high for the junior. Allyson Sandusky notched a 9.750 in the third position. Puckett and Kylie Shields each were awarded 9.725s.
Georgia began the meet with a 49.250 on vault.
Moving to vault, Puckett, the nation's fifth-ranked vaulter, led the way for the Tigers by earning a 9.875. Mills posted a 9.825 in the No. 5 spot and Sandusky and Voss provided a pair of 9.8s. Lauren Brzostowski and Kylie Shields opened the rotation with 9.725s each. Auburn finished with a 49.025.
On bars, Georgia, the nation's second-ranked squad on the event, scored a 49.150.
For the second meet in a row, Carmen Nelms got things started for Auburn on floor with a 9.8. She was followed up by a 9.825 from Voss. In the No. 4 spot, seventh-ranked Rachel Inniss tumbled to a 9.875. Mills and Puckett wrapped up the Tigers third rotation by registering a 9.725 and 9.85, respectively. Auburn finished floor with a 49.075.
The Gym Dogs matched their season high of 49.475 on beam in the third rotation.
Puckett closed out Auburn's fourth and final rotation with a 9.875 on beam. The senior's mark was the high score for the Tigers on the event. Shields delivered in the No. 3 position, earning a 9.825. Brzostowski earned a season-high score of 9.775 in the lead-off spot for the Tigers on beam and sophomore Katie Hurley mirrored Brzostowski's score with a 9.775. Mills was awarded a 9.75. Auburn tallied a 49.000 to close out the meet.
Georgia finished on floor and totaled a 49.375.
The Tigers will return to Beard-Eaves-Memorial Coliseum on Feb. 13, to host No. 3 Arkansas at 7 p.m.
Uneven Bars - 48.825
Krissy Voss 9.8
Kylie Shields 9.725
Allyson Sandusky 9.750
Kendall Swartz 9.625
Lindsey Puckett 9.725
A.J. Mills 9.825
Vault - 49.025
Lauren Brzostowski 9.725
Kylie Shields 9.725
Allyson Sandusky 9.8
KrissyFloor Exercise - 49.075
Carmen Nelms 9.8
Krissy Voss 9.825
Claire Seiffert 9.725
Rachel Inniss 9.875
A.J. Mills 9.725
Lindsey Puckett 9.85
Balance Beam - 49.000
Lauren Brzostowski 9.775
Katie Hurley 9.775
Rachel Inniss 9.350
Kylie Shields 9.825
A.J. Mills 9.75
Lindsey Puckett 9.875
All-Around
Lindsey Puckett 39.325
A.J. Mills 39.125