No. 3 Alabama Gymnastics Matches Season-High in Win Over No. 18 Auburn

No. 3 Alabama took down No. 18 Auburn 197.950-197.250 in the Iron Bowl of gymnastics on the road on Friday night.

This victory, which is the Crimson Tide's first in Neville Arena since 2018, brings Alabama head coach Ashley Johnston and company's record up to 5-2 on the season, including a 3-2 clip against the SEC.

Alabama matched its best score of the season, as it's the same score as last meet against Arkansas. The Crimson Tide logged 13 scores of 9.900 or better across the four rotations.

Alabama got off to a strong start on bars, as it led by 0.175 after the first rotation. Chloe LaCoursiere and Azaraya Ra-Akbar led the way in this event, as they both scored 9.950.

The Crimson Tide increased its lead to 0.325 after the second rotation. Graduate student Jordyn Paradise put up a career-high on vault with a 9.950.

"Really excited about our vault squad I still think there’s more there," Johnston said during the post-meet press conference. "I think we can be probably three tenths better."

But perhaps the third rotation was Alabama's biggest story. The Crimson Tide boosted its lead on floor to 0.500 after tallying a season-high score of 49.925. Gabby Gladieux led UA with a 9.925, but LaCoursiere, Jasmine Cawley and McKenzie Matters each earned a 9.900.

The fourth rotation was the icing on the cake, as Alabama tied its score from the floor exercise. Jasmine Cawley and Kylee Kvamme led the way with 9.925 apiece.

“So incredibly proud of our team tonight," Johnston said. "I think coming in here, we knew this was going to be a tough environment. We knew this was going to be a tough competition. There’s never a doubt in my mind that an Iron Bowl is going to be cutthroat and intense until the final moments whether that’s gymnastics, football, it just doesn’t matter. There’s always just a weird magic in the air, and you never know which way it’s gonna go."

LaCoursiere explained that "the Iron Bowl is definitely one of our favorite meets" and the Crimson Tide had an extra jolt of energy coming into this one.

"We were so excited about this opportunity, but we knew we’d have to train for it… We train to be unfazed," LaCoursiere said. "I think that’s something we work really hard at, and it was shown tonight. We also just play our game, and that’s something that’s really helped this team."

Alabama aims to increase its win streak to three on the road against No. 2 LSU on Feb. 27.

Here are the individual and team totals for Alabama and Auburn across all four rotations:

Rotation 1:

Alabama Uneven Bars: 49.525

Paityn Walker: 9.850
Gabby Gladieux: 9.625
Natalia Pawlak: 9.925
Ryan Fuller: 9.850
Chloe LaCoursiere: 9.950
Azaraya Ra-Akbar: 9.950

Auburn Vault: 49.350

Olivia Greaves: 9.800
Mia Leverton: 9.850
Marissa Neal: 9.875
Julianne Huff: 9.900
Paige Zancan: 9.850
Brynn Torry: 9.875

Rotation 2:

Alabama Vault: 49.375

Jasmine Cawley: 9.875
Noella Marshall: 9.825
Jordyn Paradise: 9.950
McKenzie Matters: 9.850
Gabby Gladieux: 9.625
Azaraya Ra-Akbar: 9.875

Auburn Uneven Bars: 49.225

Julianne Huff: 9.825
Emma Grace Boyd: 9.875
Charlotte Booth: 9.775
Katelyn Jong: 9.700
Olivia Greaves: 9.825
Alex Irvine: 9.925

Rotation 3:

Alabama Floor Exercise: 49.925

Chloe LaCoursiere: 9.900
Jasmine Cawley: 9.900
McKenzie Matters: 9.900
Azaraya Ra-Akbar: 9.875
Jamison Sears: 9.990
Gabby Gladieux: 9.925

Auburn Balance Beam: 49.350

Olivia Ahern: 9.900
Emma Wehry: 9.725
Julianne Huff: 9.875
Hannah Hagle: 9.875
Alex Irvine: 9.825
Marissa Neal: 9.875

Rotation 4:

Alabama Balance Beam: 49.925

Ryan Fuller: 9.850
Chloe LaCoursiere: 9.900
Gabby Ladanyi: 9.990
Jasmine Cawley: 9.925
Gabby Gladieux: 9.875
Kylee Kvamme: 9.925

Auburn Floor Exercise: 49.325

Bryn Bartman: 9.850
Alex Irvine: 9.800
Olivia Ahern: 9.875
Julianne Huff: 9.925
Marissa Neal: 9.875
Olivia Greaves: 9.800