March 9, 2012
CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. - Auburn totaled a solid 195.925 on Friday night as the Tigers downed Southeast Missouri on the road in non-conference action. The Redhawks finished with a final total of 194.425.
"Tonight was a tough environment, but the girls battled through that adversity," Auburn coach Jeff Graba said. "We had an injury on floor, but the girls did great through all of the adversity they had to face. They kept their heads down and did a great job. This is one of our best road performances. Our last two road performances have been our best. We are really happy with that."
Auburn opened on bars and posted a strong 49.000. Kylie Shields wrapped up the Auburn bars lineup with a 9.850 - tops on the team. Petrina Yokay scored 9.825, while Bri Guy and Allyson Sandusky added matching scores of 9.800 as the Tigers took a 49.000-48.300 lead after one rotation.
Toi Garcia's 9.825 vault score powered Auburn further into the lead after two rotations. The Tigers held a commanding advantage of 97.850-97.000 as they moved into the floor exercise.
A pair of miscues on floor held Auburn to a total score of just 48.875, but Garcia was solid with her 9.875 performance, a mark that ties her season high. In front of her home-state crowd, Webster recorded a 9.800. After three events, the Tigers held a 146.725-145.775 advantage.
Auburn wrapped up the win on beam with a season-high showing of 49.200. Sandusky led the way with a season high tying 9.875, also the top score of the meet on the apparatus. Abbey Habicht added a career-best 9.850 and Yokay tied her career-high mark with a 9.850. Megan Walker also tied her career high with a 9.800 performance on balance beam.
"I'm glad that we are finally doing that in a meet," Graba said. "We've been waiting for it to show up. It was a tough meet. We brought the energy, the focus and finished with our best beam of the year."
Shields picked up her 12th and 13th event wins of the season with wins on uneven bars (9.850) and with the all-around title (39.200).
The Tigers are in action next on March 16 when they wrap up the regular season at home against BYU. For the latest on Auburn gymnastics follow @AUGymnastics on Twitter.
TOTALS
Vault: Allyson Sandusky - 9.750, Petrina Yokay - 9.700, Brittany Webster - 9.750, Kylie Shields - 9.775, Bri Guy - 9.750, Toi Garcia - 9.825, TOTAL - 48.850
Bars: Bri Guy - 9.800, Abbey Habicht - 9.675, Megan Walker - 9.725, Petrina Yokay - 9.825, Allyson Sandusky - 9.800, Kylie Shields - 9.850, TOTAL - 49.000
Beam: Petrina Yokay - 9.850, Abbey Habicht - 9.850, Megan Walker - 9.800, Allyson Sandusky - 9.875, Kylie Shields - 9.825, Bri Guy - 9.350, TOTAL - 49.200
Floor: Caryn Kadous - 9.175, Laura Lane - 9.775, Kylie Shields - 9.750, Brittany Webster - 9.800, Toi Garcia - 9.875, Bri Guy - 9.675, TOTAL - 48.875