No. 4 Alabama Gymnastics Beats No. 14 Missouri, 195.775-195.750, Friday Night
COLUMBIA, Mo. – The No. 4 Alabama gymnastics team beat No. 14 Missouri 195.775-197.750 Friday night at the Hearnes Center in Columbia, Mo. With the win, the Crimson Tide goes to 2-0-0 to start an all-Southeastern Conference regular season, while the Tigers fall to 0-2-0.
“We will use tonight as an opportunity for growth in the mental toughness that is necessary when it comes competing on the road," Alabama coach Dana Duckworth said. "As a team we are disappointed in our overall performance, but there were some strong individual moments. Shania Adams competed and won the all-around, improving considerably from last week. Luisa Blanco was back in her spot at the end of our beam lineup and competed like a champion. In fact, all four of our anchors — Luisa, Lexi Graber and Makarri Doggette — did a great job tonight. We will learn, grow and get better.”
Rookie Shania Adams led the Tide, winning the all-around with a career-best 39.475. Adams and Lexi Graber tied for top honors on the vault, while Makarri Doggette won the uneven bars and Luisa Blanco took top honors on the balance beam.
After opening the night with a solid showing on the uneven bars and strong efforts on the vault and floor exercise, the Tide ran into trouble on the balance beam with two of its middle routines recording falls. Blanco closed the rotation with a 9.875, boosting UA to a 48.350 team score and giving the Tide the win.
Alabama started the night off with a 49.025 on the uneven bars led by a huge 9.925 routine from Doggette. On the vault, UA went 49.250 led by 9.925s from Adams and Graber. Graber also led the Tide on the floor exercise, posting a 9.875 to push the Tide to a 49.150 team score.
Tide-bits:
- Doggette led the Crimson Tide on the uneven bars, scoring a 9.925 against the Tigers after opening the season with a 9.900 last week against Kentucky
- In just her second collegiate vault, Adams led the Crimson Tide with a 9.925, a score matched by Graber
- After posting a 9.850 in her first collegiate vault last week against Kentucky, Mati Waligora went 9.875 at Missouri
- With a 9.875 against the Tigers, Graber has now scored 9.850-or-better in 19 of her 25 floor exercise routines, including 14 that went 9.9-or-better
- Adams posted a 9.850, matching her debut floor score from a week ago
- Shallon Olsen made her 2021 floor exercise debut with a 9.800
- Adams bettered her balance beam score from last week, going 9.850
- Blanco’s 9.875 came on her first balance beam routine of the season
Alabama returns home on Jan. 22 to take on in-state rival Auburn (7:30 p.m. CT, SEC Network).
