[ad_1]
LSU’s gymnastics team lost to the Missouri Tigers Friday night in Columbia, 197.225 to 197.325.
Both teams continued to fight until the end, with the match coming down to the last gymnast. In the end, a mix of Missouri’s home crowd and a near-perfect first half performance gave them a slight advantage against the LSU Tigers.
LSU had just won against No. 6 Kentucky with a score of 198.125. It was the Tigers’ highest score so far in the 2024 season and the second-highest in the nation. They moved up to third place in national polls, compared to Missouri’s ninth place.
“Last Friday was a good confidence-boosting game,” head coach Jay Clark said after his team’s win over Kentucky. “Our intent is to turn the page and continue to be the same team as we move into the next game. ” he said. “Missouri is a good team and we are excited to be in their environment.”
LSU started the match on uneven bars and scored a 49.400.
At the same time, Missouri dominated the rotation on vault. The Missouri Tigers took the lead at the end of the first rotation, 49.425-49.400.
When LSU turned to vault, all eyes were on Hailey Bryant, with Tiger fans hoping for her fourth consecutive perfect 10 against the Missouri Tigers.
KJ Johnson led the Tigers with a solid score of 9.875. Savannah Schoenher followed with a 9.900, followed by Aleah Finnegan with a 9.800. Kiya Johnson scored a 9.850, and Bryant ended his consecutive vault streak against the Colombian team with a score of 9.900.
LSU didn’t record a single landing on vault, which shed an even brighter light on Missouri’s near-perfect uneven bars routine. After the second rotation, Missouri had a 50% stick rate, with 6 of 12 routines being sticks.
“If you don’t score on vault, you don’t score,” Clark said during the match. “If you don’t work hard, you won’t succeed in a place like this.”
After the second rotation, Missouri held a 98.825 to 98.725 lead and headed into the next event with confidence.
But LSU answered Clark’s call on the floor with perhaps its best rotation. In the first conference road competition of the year, LSU once again proved why its floor team deserves to be ranked No. 1 in the nation.
Sierra Ballard took first place with a score of 9.775, followed by Connor McClain with a score of 9.875.
LSU’s floor routine continued to dominate, and the Tigers tied Missouri with a score of 118.375.
KJ Johnson finished a difficult floor routine with a score of 9.725 despite stepping out of bounds. Finnegan had another fall and scored a 9.350, but was ultimately dropped.
Freshmen Amari Drayton scored a 9.875 and Kiya Johnson scored a 9.900.
LSU took the lead on floor with a score of 49.150, but Missouri followed on beam with a score of 48.900.
LSU entered the final rotation with a 147.875-147.725 lead.
Ballard once again led the way on balance beam, looking to improve on his previous score of 9.900 against Kentucky. Ballard, who fell short by 0.5, scored a 9.850.
LSU began to pick up the pace as Connor McClain posted a perfect 10 on the balance beam. Kiya Johnson also had a solid routine, hanging on through two full dismounts. She received a score of 9.900. Bryant finished the night with a score of 9.850 on the stick.
After University of Missouri freshman Kennedy Griffin scored a 9.975, the match became a contest between the anchors of both teams.
Both Tiger teams tied for 197.225.
LSU needed a score of 9.975 to win. But Finnegan could not answer. This match was a keep for Missouri after she failed on her first skill.
Missouri State needed a score of 9.850 to win, but Jocelyn Moore answered with a score higher than that. Moore scored a 9.925 to give the local team the victory.
Missouri State earned its first home conference win of the season, 197.325-197.225.
Despite LSU’s best efforts in the rotation in the second half, a weak start and a small incident propelled the University of Missouri to victory.
LSU’s ranking will likely drop entering Week 5 of the season, but with their next home game coming up, the Tigers will definitely find a way to win.
[ad_2]
Source link
