No. 16 Auburn Earns a 196.375 Road Score at Georgia

Jan. 19, 2018

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ATHENS, Ga. -- The No. 16 Auburn gymnastics team put together a solid performance in a tough environment on the road, scoring a 196.375 at Georgia Friday night in Stegeman Coliseum. The Bulldogs came away with a 196.725 to take the win.

"I thought the team did a great job overall," head coach Jeff Graba said. "We really settled down on the last two events and put together solid performances in a raucous environment. The team fought all the way through and we couldn't ask for more than that."

It was a tightly contested competition throughout the whole evening with both teams battling for the lead.

Auburn (2-3, 1-1 SEC) took a slim 48.950-48.875 lead after the second rotation with a season-high 49.125 on vault. Freshmen Drew Watson and Jada Glenn led the squad as the duo each recorded a 9.875 apiece. Those scores were career highs for both gymnasts. Sophomore Gracie Day finished in a tie for fourth in the meet with a 9.85, while sophomore Katie Becker and junior A'Miracal Phillips followed with a 9.775 and 9.75, respectively.

"Vault came out of nowhere for us," Graba said "We weren't warming up very well on it or adjusting well and I thought they competed it fantastically when it came to go time."

In the final rotation of the evening, Auburn put together its best performance on beam so far this year with a 49.200. A trio of Tigers in redshirt junior Abby Milliet and juniors Taylor Krippner and Samantha Cerio finished in a tie for first with a 9.875 each. That score tied a career best for Cerio, while setting a season high for Krippner. Redshirt sophomore Emma Slappey tied her season high on the apparatus with a 9.825, while Meredith Sylvia made her collegiate debut with a 9.75.

"I was really proud of how the team handled beam to end the night," Graba said. "It was loud and crazy with Georgia on floor and we really needed that adversity. The last four for us were on the money and I'm really excited with where we are right now in the season."

The Tigers opened the evening on bars, scoring a 48.875. Cerio came in another tie for first with another 9.875. A trio of sophomores finished in places four, five, and six with Day earning a 9.85. Classmate Kendal Moss had a 9.8, while Becker picked up a 9.75. Milliet capped scoring with a 9.675.

Auburn earned a 49.100 on floor in rotation three with Day and Milliet leading the way with a 9.85 each. Slappey set a season best with a 9.825, while freshman Ashley Smith's 9.8 was a career high. Cerio's 9.775 closed out the team score for the Tigers.

Auburn kicks off a two-week homestand next Friday, Jan. 26, hosting No. 5 Kentucky. The Tigers and the Wildcats will face off at 7:30 p.m. CT and the meet will be broadcast on SEC Network.

Auburn Results