AUBURN, Ala. – Defeating Alabama for the third time in their past four meetings on the Plains, No. 8 Auburn earned the second highest score in program history Friday at sold-out Auburn Arena to outdistance the ninth-ranked Crimson Tide 197.525-197.125.
"Really proud of the team," Auburn coach Jeff Graba said. "It was a fun night. Probably the craziest crowd I've ever been a part of. It was good to see Auburn Arena like that, and to see our girls react like they did."
Freshman Sunisa Lee, the Olympic all-around gold medalist, won her collegiate all-around debut, scoring a 39.7.
"It was amazing," Lee said. "We went out there and did our best. We were hungry. We felt like we had something to prove and I feel like we did exactly that. This was up there with the Olympics. It's been really exciting and I love it. I'm having so much fun."
Lee's stellar night featured the meet's highest score, a 9.975 on beam, along with 9.925s on bars and floor, and a 9.875 on vault, an apparatus on which she only recently resumed training.
"I felt like I had to prove myself this week that I could still do it," Lee said. "I just focus on getting better."
Lee shared event titles on bars with Derrian Gobourne and Alabama's Luisa Blanco, and with Blanco on beam.
"We do a lot of team bonding," Lee said. "When everything comes together, it's so special."
"She had a different drive this week," Graba said. "She let it come to her and took control of her training. She came in with a fire this week, and I'm not sure I could not put her in the all-around."
Gobourne won the floor title with another crowd-pleasing routine that earned a 9.95 from the judges. Freshman Sophia Groth scored a career-best 9.9 on floor. Sophomore Gabby McLaughlin tied her career high with a 9.925 on beam.
With each event, Auburn increased its score, earning a 49.175 on vault, 49.350 on bars, 49.450 on beam and 49.550 on floor, thrilling the 9,121 fans in attendance.
"It was so loud in there," said fifth year Drew Watson, one of four Tigers to score 9.9 or better on floor. "I was in awe of all the students and fans there. It was so special. It's nice to beat Alabama. The group of girls I'm doing it with, we're all supportive of each other. I'm thankful and grateful to be here."
After competing with reduced capacity in 2020, Auburn added nearly 2,000 seats to its pre-pandemic gymnastics capacity, increasing the volume and energy in the arena.
"This is why they came here," Graba said. "It's just fueled the atmosphere. In my opinion, there's not an atmosphere that's even close to this in college gymnastics. This is extremely helpful if you're the home team."
Auburn previously outscored its archrival at Auburn Arena in 2016 and 2020. After consecutive home meets, the Tigers travel to Baton Rouge next Saturday to compete vs. LSU at 3 p.m. CT on ESPNU.
"I'm appreciative that we've changed the narrative," Graba said of the rivalry victory. "This is the beginning of a really fun season. We're still getting better. When you perform like that, you win a lot of meets. These upperclassmen know how much it matters."
VAULT
Auburn started the meet with vault, putting together a team score of 49.175. Lee made her vault debut with a 9.875. Fellow freshmen Sara Hubbard had 9.8 and Groth finished with a 9.850. Junior Cassie Stevens returned to vault with a 9.775. Gobourne and Watson both scored 9.825s.
BARS
The Tigers moved to bars in rotation two and finished with a team score of 49.350. Gobourne scored her season high with a 9.925, tying Lee's 9.925 to share the event title. Stevens and Smith had a pair of back-to-back 9.825s, while classmate Aria Brusch scored a 9.850.
BEAM
Rotation three saw beam earn a season high of 49.450. Lee led the way with a career-best 9.975, earning a 10 from one judge. Sophomore Gabby McLaughlin tied her season high of 9.925. Stevens set a season-best with a 9.875, while Brusch and Groth chipped in a 9.85 and 9.825 each.
FLOOR
Auburn finished the night with a bang, scoring a 49.550 on floor to set a season best. That score also finished tied for third overall in program history. Gobourne capped the fun night with a 9.95 to take her fourth straight event title. Lee earned a season-best 9.925, while Groth and Watson added a pair of 9.9s. Those scored set career bests for the duo. Stevens and Brusch led off with two 9.875s.
