Feb. 3, 2012
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. - Auburn rebounded from a sluggish start to post its second-highest score of the year and highest score on the road with a 195.800 overall, but fell to the Razorbacks who scored 196.800 on Friday night in SEC action at Barnhill Arena.
"We fought tonight. That's why we salvaged such a good score," Auburn head coach Jeff Graba said. "We scratched and clawed for anything we could on a night that was really pretty mediocre.
"We got Lexus into the lineup on floor which is a big deal. It was a little unfortunate that it happened because of an injury after we lost Caryn with a rolled ankle. We aren't very deep right now, but we are getting there. We had to shuffle some lineups, but the girls handled it really well. We were too tight. It was definitely a sluggish start."
Auburn started out slowly on bars in the first rotation, but rebounded in the back half of the event thanks to three solid routines from a trio of upperclassmen. Junior Petrina Yokay equaled her career-best score with a 9.900 and seniors Allyson Sandusky (9.825) and Kylie Shields (career-high tying 9.900) scored strongly and helped the Tigers to a 49.000 overall.
The Tigers didn't get any help from No. 2 Arkansas on vault, as all five scorers for the Razorbacks scored higher than 9.800, including two scores over 9.900, en route to a total score of 49.275. Auburn posted a 48.700 on vault behind a 9.800 from Toi Garcia.
Arkansas posted the third highest bars score in program history with a 49.350 to maintain a lead of nearly a full point after two rotations. The Razorbacks again posted three scores over 9.900 led by a 9.925 from Jaime Pisani.
Auburn went to floor next and posted its second-best floor score of the season with a 48.975 led by freshman Bri Guy with a 9.900. Shields scored a season-high 9.850 and Garcia added a 9.825, while freshman Lexus Demers scored 9.600 in her first collegiate routine. After the third rotation, the Tigers trailed Arkansas 147.850-146.675.
Yokay started beam with a career-high 9.850 and Megan Walker followed suit with a season-high tying 9.800. Sandusky added a season-high 9.875 and Guy set a new career-best mark with a 9.800 as the Tigers registered a season-high 49.125 on the apparatus.
"I thought we did a great job on beam," Graba said. "We only had one mistake. Everyone for the most part was light out. We hit landings. It was our best beam performance so far this year. It's nice to see you go on the road in a tough environment and finish strong. We just started really slow."
Pisani came through with a school record 9.975 for Arkansas in floor routine and helped the Razorbacks seal the win. Originally intending to only send five competitors out in floor, Arkansas ended up sending a sixth gymnast to compete after a fall by Kelsi Lewis resulted in a 9.225 score.
Guy was Auburn's top all-around scorer with a 39.200. Pisani led all scorers with an Arkansas record 39.725.
Auburn is in action next a week from Sunday when they travel to West Virginia for a three-way meet with the host Mountaineers and Ohio State.
TOTALS
Bars: Bri Guy - 9.750, Abbey Habicht - 8.400, Megan Walker - 9.625, Petrina Yokay - 9.900, Allyson Sandusky - 9.825, Kylie Shields - 9.900 TOTAL - 49.000
Vault: Caryn Kadous - 9.200, Allyson Sandusky - 9.750, Brittany Webster - 9.775, Kylie Shields - 9.675, Bri Guy - 9.700, Toi Garcia - 9.800 TOTAL - 48.700
Floor: Laura Lane - 9.575, Brittany Webster - 9.800, Kylie Shields - 9.850, Toi Garcia - 9.825, Bri Guy - 9.900, Lexus Demers - 9.600 TOTAL - 48.975
Beam: Petrina Yokay - 9.850, Megan Walker - 9.800, Abbey Habicht - 9.200, Allyson Sandusky - 9.875, Bri Guy - 9.800, Kylie Shields - 9.750 TOTAL - 49.125