No. 9 Alabama Comes up Short in 198.325-197.325 Loss to No. 2 LSU – University of Alabama Athletics

BATON ROUGE, La. – The No. 9 Alabama gymnastics program (9-3-1, 3-3-1 SEC) came up short against the No. 2 LSU Tigers (8-3; 5-2 SEC), 198.325-197.325, Friday night in Pete Maravich Assembly Center. Despite the loss, the Crimson Tide still posted a season-high score on the balance beam (49.500) behind multiple podium finishes highlighted by an event-winning 9.950 performance on beam.

After starting slow in its opening rotation, Alabama moved to vault where junior Corinne Bunagan made her season debut before super senior Luisa Blanco recorded her fifth 9.900-or-higher score of the season, claiming her first of three podium finishes of the night.

A week after scoring a 9.975 on the floor exercise, sophomore Gabby Gladieux posted a 9.950, marking two consecutive scores of 9.950-or-higher on one event for the first time in her young career. Alabama closed the night by recording the highest balance beam score of the night in Baton Rouge, as super senior Burgess calmly performed to a career-high-tying 9.950 to propel the Tide to a season-high rotation score of 49.500.

Alabama claimed six podium finishes on the night as Burgess claimed the only event title. Blanco found the podium three times (vault – 2^nd | 9.900; balance beam – 2^nd | 9.925; all-around – 2^nd | 39.550), while Gladieux reached the podium twice (floor exercise – 3^rd | 9.950; all-around – 3^rd | 39.450).

Gallery: (3-1-2024) 03-01-24 WGY vs LSU

Head Coach Ashley Johnston Said

“The environment tonight [at LSU] was really exhilarating. I felt like our team came in ready to start strong, but got a little fazed right there at the start on [the uneven] bars. And at that point, we went into ‘fight mode’ to try and command every opportunity we had. I felt like as the meet progressed, they did a good job of fighting and battling back entering that last event. I’m proud of how we responded on beam – that was a clutch moment that they could have decided to either, truly, go after it or be distracted. But, they went after it and fought all the way through to the finish line, which was an important step for this team. We have to keep building, though. We have to get back in the gym and, as a staff, challenge them to compete hard in tough moments. I know this team is committed to continuing to get better, finding ways to overcome the challenges they’re experiencing. I truly believe this team is capable of competing with anybody in the country; we just have to get back after it.”

Inside the Score Sheet

• Three Alabama gymnasts claimed three podium finishes inside Pete Maravich Assembly Center
  • Luisa Blanco – vault (2^nd | 9.900); balance beam (2^nd | 9.925); all-around (2^nd | 39.550)
  • Ella Burgess – balance beam (2^nd | 9.950)
  • Gabby Gladieux – floor exercise (3^rd | 9.950); all-around (3^rd – 39.550)
• UA posted a season-high event score of 49.500 on the balance beam, as half of the Tide’s lineup posted a 9.900-or-higher score
• Blanco recorded her fifth 9.900-or-higher vault score of the season
• For the first time in her career, Gladieux posted 9.950-or-higher scores in back-to-back weeks on the same event
• Corinne Bunagan made her season debut on vault (9.775)

Up Next

• Alabama returns to Tuscaloosa, Ala., for its final home meet of the 2024 season next Friday night, with first vault at 7 p.m. CT
• The quad meet will feature No. 16 Minnesota, No. 23 Illinois and Talladega College
• The night has been dubbed as Eras Night as the Crimson Tide welcomes home its alumni and honors its seven senior gymnasts as part of Senior Night festivities

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