COLUMBIA, Mo. – The No. 13 Auburn gymnastics team picked up its second-highest road score of the season Sunday afternoon, earning a 197.125 in the Hearnes Center in Columbia. Host and No. 7 Missouri won the meet with a 198.100.
“I’m really happy with the fight of this team,” head coach Jeff Graba said. “Out mission was to improve as a team on last week’s performance. We definitely did that. We also definitely still have our work cut out for us, but I like our chances if this team keeps pushing.”
A handful of Tigers reached or tied career bests. Highlighting the day was the final routine for the Tigers, coming from fifth year Gabby McLaughlin. The Aliso Viejo, California product won beam with a 9.975, earning a 10.0 from one judge and tying a career high.
Sophomore Olivia Greaves earned a share of the bars title, earning a career-high 9.95 in the anchor spot for the Tigers in the first rotation.
The Tigers (10-5, 3-4 SEC) started out the day on bars, with the 9.95 from Greaves highlighting the rotation. Sophomore Alex Irvine added a 9.875, while senior Sophia Groth put together a 9.775. Senior Caroline Leonard led off with a 9.725 and freshman Marissa Neal, making her bars debut, earned a 9.75.
Auburn saw big vaults in rotation two as a pair of Tigers earned 9.9s. Sophomore Julianne Huff led off with a stuck Yurchenko 1.5, earning a 9.9 for a season best. Senior Sara Hubbard added a season-high 9.9 on her stuck Yurchenko 1.5. Sophomore Paige Zancan had a 9.875, while freshman Sophia Bell and senior Sydney Schumaker each had 9.8s
Needing to reach a 197+ on the road, the Tigers buckled down in the third and fourth rotations.
Auburn had a big third, seeing its third-highest floor score of the season with a 49.4.
Bell highlighted action for the Tigers as the Blue Springs, Missouri product tied a career high with a 9.925. McLaughlin chipped in a 9.9, while Zancan had a 9.875. Freshman Olivia Ahern and Groth each added 9.85s to the team score.
Auburn picked up another 49.400 on beam to close out the meet. McLaughlin’s 9.975 anchored the rotation and Zancan added a 9.925 to tie a career best. Neal put together a 9.875, while Greaves earned a 9.825. Groth and Ahern each had a 9.8.
Auburn closes out the regular season at home, hosting No. 2 LSU in Neville Arena on Friday, March 14. The two Tiger teams will face off at 7 p.m. CT on SEC Network+ and it will be Auburn's Senior Night and Alumni Night.