University of Missouri
#5 LSU
No. 15 @MizzouGym Falls at No. 5 LSU, 197.650-195.475
2/17/2019 4:27:00 PM | Gymnastics
BATON ROUGE, La. – Competing for the second time in three days, the No. 15 Mizzou gymnastics team suffered a 197.650-195.475 loss at No. 5 LSU on Sunday afternoon at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center in Baton Rouge, La.
The Tigers totaled a 49.225 on floor to highlight the day, which marked the ninth-straight meet they scored a 49 or higher on the event. Mizzou is one of only five schools nationally to go 49 on floor in every meet this season.
KEY PERFORMANCES
Missouri opened the day with a 48.900 on bars, led by three Tigers with scores of 9.825 or better. Senior Madeleine Huber (St. Louis, Mo.) notched a 9.875 for her third-consecutive score of 9.875 or higher. Redshirt senior Becca Schugel (Eagan, Minn.) and redshirt junior Morgan Porter (Overland, Mo.) both earned scores of 9.825, and sophomore Chelsey Christensen (Rapid City, S.D.) went 9.75.
The Tigers put up only five gymnasts on vault and totaled a 48.450 on the event. Junior Aspen Tucker (Lehigh Acres, Fla.) paced Mizzou with a 9.8, while Porter went 9.775. Additionally, Christensen and freshman Frances Bidwill (Phoenix, Ariz.) both posted scores of 9.75.
A 49.225 on floor in the third rotation got Mizzou back on track. The team total improved the team's 49 or higher streak to nine meets, which stands as the longest span in program history. Porter led the Missouri charge with a season-high-tying 9.875. Both senior Michaelee Turner (Parkville, Mo.) and sophomore Gabrielle Gottula (Spring, Texas) claimed scores of 9.85, which was a career-best for Gottula and tied Turner's season-best. Tucker and junior Mary Nicholson (North Richland Hills, Texas) each went 9.825 as well.
Mizzou concluded the day with a 48.900 on beam in the final rotation. Back in the lineup after missing the last two meets, senior Britney Ward (Ozark, Mo.) led the squad with a 9.875. Nicholson tallied a 9.85 in the second spot, while sophomore Lauren Clevenger (Catoosa, Okla.) went 9.775 and senior Allison Bower (Mesa, Ariz.) posted a 9.75.
QUOTABLES
Mizzou Head Coach Shannon Welker
"We're not being very aggressive on the first event out. We need to be more aggressive and set the tone. Overall I thought floor as pretty solid but we weren't as sharp as I'd like to be on bars and beam, and we can't count a fall. We have a bye week, so we'll regroup and be better when we come out the next time."
UP NEXT
The Tigers are idle until they host No. 13 Kentucky on Friday, March 1 at 5 p.m. CT at the Hearnes Center. The meet will be televised live on the SEC Network.
Players Mentioned
