COLUMBIA, Mo. – After starting the season with six top-25 meets in six weeks, No. 5 Auburn took the opportunity to build depth and rest headliners in some events Sunday at No. 16 Missouri.
Sophomore Sophia Groth won her first all-around with a 39.275 to help Auburn earn 196.550 while the home Tigers scored 197.450 in front of a program record crowd of 6,041.
"We came in knowing we had to rest people. It's that time of year plus we're pretty beat up," Auburn coach Jeff Graba said. "We wanted to give some new people some opportunities. I thought for the most part we handled ourselves pretty well. I thought we got better tonight."
Competing in only two events, Sunisa Lee won the bars title with a 9.95 anchor score, following Derrian Gobourne's 9.875. Gabby McLaughlin earned a 9.825 in the No. 2 spot. Olivia Hollingsworth and Adeline Sabados each earned 9.775s for a 49.2 team score after one rotation.
Gobourne anchored Auburn's vault lineup, scoring 9.875 to lead the Tigers' second event. Hollingsworth added a 9.85 while Sara Hubbard and Cassie Stevens each contributed 9.775s. Groth added a 9.75 to give the visiting Tigers a 98.225 through two rotations.
With Lee and Gobourne both taking a break on floor, Auburn displayed its depth in the event, scoring a meet-best 49.375 in the third rotation.
With her crowd-pleasing disco floor music, Groth scored a season-high 9.9. Hollingsworth, next in the lineup, also earned a 9.9 to tie her career best. Stevens and Aria Brusch added 9.875s while McLaughlin contributed a 9.825.
Finishing on beam, Auburn opened with balance checks and closed with a fall, leading to a meet-low 48.95 team score.
In the second spot, Brusch delivered a 9.875 and Stevens followed with a 9.9, highlighted by her eponymous skill, to win the event title. Groth continued the strong showing by earning 9.875 and McLaughlin scored a 9.85.
"We showed our nerves and I think some of our veterans tried to do too much, but I was really happy with the last two events," Graba said. "I felt like they kept their heads on straight, tried to stay in the game. They didn't turn tail and run."
Missouri's Jocelyn Moore scored a 10 on vault to claim the event title.
Facing a quick turnaround after a rare Sunday meet, Auburn returns to Neville Arena Friday at 6:30 p.m. CT vs. No. 19 Georgia.
