AUBURN, Ala. – They did the wave, they swag surfed and they roared their approval when Auburn gymnasts earned 10s.
Friday Night Heights are back at Neville Arena.
Sunisa Lee won three event titles and the all-around competition to lead No. 7 Auburn to a 197.500-196.675 victory Friday over No. 25 Arkansas in the Tigers' home opener.
"Great crowd, love the atmosphere, and we needed everything that we could get from them, and they gave it to us," Auburn coach Jeff Graba said. "It was a really tight, tough fight all the way through and I think it makes you better when you go through that. I'm really proud of the team."
Lee earned 10s from one of two judges on bars and floor, and Derrian Gobourne closed the meet with a fabulous floor routine that averaged a 9.95, meriting a 10 from one judge and adulation from the sellout crowd of 9,121.
Cassie Stevens and Lee provided an early jolt, sticking their vaults and scoring 9.925 and 9.95, respectively, on Auburn's first rotation.
Derrian Gobourne anchored with a 9.85, Sara Hubbard preceded Stevens with a 9.825 and Sophia Groth's 9.725 gave Auburn a narrow 49.275-49.225 lead.
Lee delighted the crowd again minutes later on bars with a seemingly flawless routine that brought the crowd to its feet, earning a 10 from one judge and scoring a 9.975.
"It felt amazing to be back home in front of the crowd," Lee said. "It was an absolutely amazing environment. It felt so positive. It felt really good to be back with the family."
Auburn scored 49.375 on bars thanks to consistency throughout the lineup, supplementing Lee's huge score with 9.85s from leadoff gymnast Olivia Hollingsworth, Gabby McLaughlin, Stevens and Gobourne.
Through two rotations, Auburn extended its lead over the Razorbacks to 98-650-98.550.
Groth and McLaughlin highlighted Auburn's third rotation, each earning 9.9 on beam. Aria Brusch and Lee contributed 9.85s, with Stevens adding a 9.8 to give the Tigers 49.3 on the event and a 147.950-147.850 lead.
"Beam for me is really natural," McLaughlin said. "I feel like I could do it in my sleep."
"I told them when we were done with beam that we go to floor and finish strong and this makes us better," Graba said. "I challenged them to do it and they did a really good job."
Arkansas struggled on beam creating separation in the final rotation, which Hollingsworth's leadoff 9.9 on floor further increased. Brusch scored a 9.85 and Stevens posted a 9.875 to set the stage for Lee and Gobourne's showstoppers, with each gymnast earning a 10 from one of two judges.
Lee won the event title with a 9.975 while Gobourne earned a 9.95 to give Auburn a 49.550 on floor.
Lee led Auburn's four all-arounders, claiming meet honors by scoring 39.75. Stevens finished third behind Arkansas' Norah Flatley with 39.45. Hollingsworth (39.175) and Groth (38.750) also competed in all four events.
Auburn continues its homestand next Friday hosting North Carolina State at 7 p.m. on SEC Network+.
