Feb. 18, 2011
GAINESVILLE, Fla. - The No. 22 Auburn gymnastics team (2-5, 2-4 SEC) fell to No. 1 Florida (8-0, 5-0 SEC), 196.850-194.950, Friday night at the Stephen C. O'Connell Center in front of 6,001.
"I think this is a step in the right direction," Auburn head coach Jeff Graba said. "This is a pressure environment , and we weren't having a great meet, but a pretty good meet on every event. We kept trying to build and push. We finished strong even under adversity, so I thought all of that was a positive."
The Tigers led off on bars with two strong performances from senior Leah Vining and junior Allyson Sandusky, each posting scores of 9.775. Sophomore Toi Garcia and junior Kylie Shields both added scores of 9.725, while junior Kareen Kaveh added a 9.650. Auburn finished with a 48.650 after the first event, while Florida completed its first rotation on vault with a 49.375.
Auburn was led on vault by Garcia's 9.850 and junior Justine Foster earned a 9.800 for the second consecutive week. Senior Lauren Brzostowski tied her career high and set a season-high 9.775, while Shields added a 9.750. Sophomore Petrina Yokay contributed a 9.675. The Tigers' 48.900 tied their season high on vault. Florida continued with another successful routine on bars, posting a 49.300.
Coming off a strong floor performance last week at Alabama, the Tigers had another successful showing against the Gators. Garcia tied her career high with a 9.875 and was followed closely by senior Rachel Inniss' 9.850. Foster posted a career-high 9.800 for the third 9.800 or better of the event, while Brzostowski and junior Laura Lane added a 9.750 and a 9.725, respectively. Auburn posted its second best floor score of the season with a 49.000, just .025 points short of its season-high 49.025. The Gators completed their third rotation on beam with a 49.200.
Auburn had to make a lineup change in its last event on beam while Inniss was out with a shoulder injury suffered at Alabama, but Shields carried the Tigers through with a season-high 9.875. Brzostowski contributed a 9.775 and freshman Abbey Habicht added a 9.725. Sandusky and Yokay rounded out the event for Auburn with a 9.525 and a 9.500, respectively. Garcia anchored the beam lineup in place of Inniss and scored a 9.350, but went on to lead Auburn in the all-around with a 38.800.
"I was a bit nervous (competing on beam), but I was going to exhibition anyway so I was going to be competing regardless," Garcia said. "I just did what I had to do. Sometimes you just have to learn how to deal with pressure like that." The Tigers return home after a two weeks on the road Friday, Feb. 25 to take on Pittsburgh at 7 p.m. CT at the Auburn Arena.
Vault
Petrina Yokay - 9.675
Allyson Sandusky - 9.725
Lauren Brzostowski - 9.775 (tied career high, set season high)
Kylie Shields - 9.750
Justine Foster - 9.800
Toi Garcia - 9.850
Katie Hurley (Exh.) - 9.500
Total: 48.900 (tied season high)
Bars
Kareen Kaveh - 9.650
Toi Garcia - 9.725
Leah Vining - 9.775
Petrina Yokay - 8.900
Allyson Sandusky - 9.775
Kylie Shields - 9.725
Total: 48.650
Beam
Lauren Brzostowski - 9.775
Petrina Yokay - 9.500
Abbey Habicht - 9.725
Allyson Sandusky - 9.525
Kylie Shields - 9.875 (season high)
Toi Garcia - 9.350
Total: 48.400
Floor
Lauren Brzostowski - 9.750
Petrina Yokay - 9.650
Lauren Lane - 9.725
Justine Foster - 9.800 (career and season high)
Toi Garcia - 9.875
Rachel Inniss - 9.850
Total: 49.000
All Around
Toi Garcia - 38.800
Petrina Yokay - 37.725