GAINESVILLE, Fla. – In a matchup of top five titans, Derrian Gobourne dazzled on floor and teammates Cassie Stevens and Sunisa Lee tied for third in all-around to lead the No. 5 Tigers to a 197.2 Friday at O'Connell Center.
Florida's Leanne Wong scored two 10s and Trinity Thomas added another to pace the second-ranked Gators to victory with a 197.825.
"I thought we did really well," Auburn coach Jeff Graba said. "A really aggressive environment. We weren't really sharp so I thought we fought really hard today. I wish we were a little bit cleaner but I'm really happy with where we are. A decent road score."
Consistency and incrementally higher scores helped Auburn take a 49.250-49.200 lead after the first rotation.
Opening on bars, each Auburn gymnast scored 9.8 or better while Florida counted two sub-9.8 vault scores, allowing the Tigers to take the early lead despite Thomas' 9.925.
Adeline Sabados opened the meet for Auburn with a 9.8, a score duplicated by Olivia Hollingsworth before Sophia Groth followed with a 9.825. Each Auburn gymnast exceeded her predecessor's score, with Stevens earning a 9.85, Gobourne tallying a 9.875 and Lee anchoring the event with a 9.9.
Florida grabbed a 98.725-98.475 lead through two rotations by taking the top three spots on bars with a 49.525, including a 10 from Wong and a 9.975 from Thomas.
Lee and Gobourne paced Auburn on vault with each scoring 9.9. Stevens earned a 9.85, Groth contributed a 9.8 and Sara Hubbard added a 9.775 to give the Tigers a vault score of 49.225.
Heading to floor for the third rotation, Gobourne earned Auburn's highest score of the meet, anchoring with a 9.95, winning over the home crowd with her combination of choreography, tumbling passes and trademark imaginary crowning.
Stevens continued her stellar meet by scoring a 9.9. Lee and Hollingsworth each added 9.85s, and Gabby McLaughlin opened with a career-high 9.8 to help the Tigers earn their highest score to that point, 49.350.
Meanwhile for the Gators, Wong earned her second 10 on beam, outshining her Honda Award-winning teammate Thomas to win the all-around with a 39.825, including a 9.975 on floor.
Closing out the meet on beam, Auburn's gymnasts delivered six 9.8 or better routines, highlighted by Stevens' 9.925. Aria Brusch, McLaughlin and Lee each earned 9.875s, Hollingsworth added a 9.825 and Groth scored a 9.8 to help the Tigers score 49.375, Auburn's best event of the meet.
"My warmups were a little shaky so if felt good to go out there and have the confidence to put together a great routine for the team," Stevens said.
Stevens and Lee finished tied for third in all-around, each scoring 39.525. Hollingsworth competed in all four events, earning a 39.2.
After starting the season with two road meets, the Tigers make their Neville Arena debut next Friday when Auburn hosts Arkansas at 7:30 p.m. C.T. on SEC Network.
"I'm excited to get two days of practice and to get some rest," said Graba, noting that the Tigers had only one day in the gym to prepare for the Florida meet. "I'm looking forward to the banner night and the big crowd in Neville Arena."
