BATON ROUGE, La. – One night after posting the highest regional score in program history, the No. 13 Auburn gymnastics team saw its season come to an end as the Tigers earned a 195.725 to finish fourth in the Regional Final at the NCAA Baton Rouge Regional.
"I think we were out of gas," Auburn head coach Jeff Graba said. "Emotionally spent. But I thought the girls fought hard. They did a great job. They didn't give up. We challenged them throughout the night, 'Get through this thing. Do the best you can.' I thought we finished the way we wanted to finish. It took us awhile to get started, and we started to find our rhythm on beam. We knocked it out the park a little bit on floor and sent the seniors off the right way."
It was fitting that senior Abby Milliet was the last Auburn gymnast to compete on the night as she closed out a strong floor rotation with a team-best 9.875. Milliet also led the team on bars with a 9.850 and added a 9.825 on beam in her last competition with the Tigers.
"I think we definitely fought all the way," Milliet said. "We felt the dip on bars, and you can take it one way or the other. You can let it keep going and just fizzle out or you can bring the fire back. And we definitely brought the fire."
It was another strong night for freshman Derrian Gobourne, who led the way in the all-around competition with a 39.200. Following her 9.950 on vault from Friday night, Gobourne will move on to the NCAA Championships where she will represent Auburn in the Individual Finals.
LSU (197.500) and Utah (197.250) advanced to the Elite Eight after finishing first and second Saturday night. Minnesota finished third with a 196.900.
Vault: Starting on one of its best events from Friday night, the Tigers delivered another solid performance on vault with a 49.050. Sophomore Drew Watson led the way with a 9.900 – her second 9.900 in as many nights. Gobourne followed with a 9.850. Junior Gracie Day earned a 9.800 on her Yurchenko 1.5, and senior Taylor Krippner added a 9.775.
Bars: Typically, bars has been Auburn's most consistent event this season. That wasn't the case Saturday as the Tigers finished with a 48.400. The highlight came from senior Abby Milliet, who stuck her landing and posted a team-best 9.850. Junior Katie Becker led off with a 9.775, and Gobourne added a 9.725 after solid routine.
Beam: The Tigers started to pick it back up on beam as all six gymnasts scored a 9.775 or higher to post a team score of 49.025. Sophomore Meredith Sylvia was the star for Auburn as she closed out the event with a 9.850. It was another solid routine from Milliet, who earned a 9.825. And Watson, who went first in the lineup, opened with a 9.800.
Floor: Auburn saved its best performance for last as the Tigers closed out the meet with a 49.250 on floor. Five of the six gymnasts posted a 9.825 or higher, including three straight 9.850s from Skyler Sheppard, Watson and Gobourne. Milliet, stepping in as the anchor, finished her night with a team-best 9.875. Junior Emma Slappey also added a 9.825