No. 6 Auburn Totals Program Record SEC Championship Score to Finish Fourth

No. 6 Auburn Finishes Fourth with a 196.975
Location	North Little Rock, Ark. | Verizon Arena
Results	Meet Results
Photos	Photo Gallery
Highlights	Video Highlights
Online	Twitter: @Auburn_Gym | Facebook: Auburn Gymnastics

NORTH LITTLE ROCK, Ark. - The No. 6 Auburn gymnastics team scored a program record SEC Championship score of 196.975 to finish fourth Saturday at the 2016 SEC Gymnastics Championship in Verizon Arena in North Little Rock, Ark. The team finish is the second-consecutive fourth place finish for the Tigers.

"For this team to come here and perform like they did at this meet is great," head coach Jeff Graba said. "I don't think you could finish the regular season a better way."

The Tigers opened the championship's evening session on floor and finished with a 49.350 overall. Senior Caitlin Atkinson led the way with a 9.9 for the Tigers, while junior Kullen Hlawek and sophomore Abby Milliet followed with a pair of 9.875s. That total tied a career-high for Milliet. Senior Kait Kluz and junior MJ Rott added a 9.85 apiece.

"I thought we did a good job on floor," Graba said. "This is a young team in a tough environment trying to handle their stress. I think they started off tight, but did well."

Auburn headed to vault for the second rotation and came away with a 49.050. Atkinson and classmate Lexus Demers each earned a 9.85 with Rott following with a 9.825. Kluz had a 9.775 and redshirt junior Kelsey Kopec opened the rotation with a 9.775.

The third rotation had the Tigers finish with a solid score of 49.325 on bars. Kluz and Kopec each total season-tying scores with a 9.9 and a 9.875, respectively. Cerio also tied a season-best, earning a 9.850. Milliet and Atkinson added a pair of 9.85s for Auburn.

"My bars routine felt great," Kluz said. "I've been focusing on the little things and it really paid off tonight."

"Bars was a turning point for us," Graba added. "I really love the way bars adjusted and did a really good job for us."

The Tigers closed out the championship with a 49.225 on beam and were led by Atkinson, who finished tied for second overall in the event with a 9.925. Her finish gave the Houston, Texas, product All-SEC honors.

"I was ectastic with beam," Atkinson said. "It felt really good to do the beam routine I know how to do. I felt really confident and was happy to get that score for my team."

Milliet and Demers tied for third overall in the event with a 9.9. The score tied a career-high for Milliet and set a season-high for Demers. Hlawek totaled a 9.825 and Krippner closed out scoring with a 9.7.

Atkinson finished the all-around in fifth overall with a 39.525. That total was a personal best at the conference championship.

Florida captured the team title, edging Alabama with a 197.775. The Crimson Tide came in second with a 197.750 and LSU took third at 197.500. Georgia was fifth (196.850), Arkansas sixth (196.500), Kentucky seventh (196.250) and Missouri came in eighth (195.750).

The Tigers upped their RQS to 197.150 and remain sixth nationally. Auburn will learn its a NCAA Regional seed Monday, March 21, as the 2016 Selection Show is set to air on NCAA.com at 3 p.m. CT.

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