Crimson Tide has to rally on the beam to beat LSU

BATON ROUGE, La. | The University of Alabama gymnastics team rocked the balance beam in its last rotation Friday night to come from behind and beat LSU. The Crimson Tide scored 196.3 to the Tigers’ 196.125 in front of an LSU record 7,717 fans.

“We’re proud to be a part of LSU’s ‘Power of Pink’ meet,” Alabama coach Sarah Patterson said. “We’re proud to help set an attendance record for the Tigers and this great cause. I am also extremely pleased that we went into the last event with our backs against the wall and were able to perform as we did.”

Down by .150 after three rotations, Alabama started its final event with a season-best 9.875 from junior Brittany Magee, followed by a 9.85 from sophomore Casey Overton, which ties her season best. Junior Amanda Montgomery posted a 9.75, followed by 9.825s from both junior Ricki Lebegern and sophomore Kassi Price. Sophomore Morgan Dennis had a fall in the final position, but at that point, Alabama had already clinched the meet with a beam total of 49.125.

“I told our ladies before we went to the balance beam that this was what it would come down to in a championship event; that we would have to go to balance beam and have to hit. I told them I didn’t know what was going to happen, but we needed to take whatever happened and build on it.”

LSU posted a 48.950 on the beam.

The Tigers’ Ashley Clare-Kearney won the all-around with a 39.45, followed by Price’s 39.4, which tied her season best.

“Kassi Price was our rock again tonight,” Patterson said.

Alabama scored a 48.925 on the uneven bars to start the night, led by Price’s 9.875 at the end of the lineup. Junior Cassie Martin made her 2008 debut on the bars, scoring a 9.750. Senior Kaitlin White scored a 9.825 and Dennis turned in a 9.8. The Tigers posted a 49.175 on the bars.

The Tide was steady on the vault with three scores of 9.85 from Dennis, Lebegern and Magee producing a 49.175 team score. LSU scored a 49.350 on the vault.

“I thought in some areas we showed that we’d had a week off from competition,” Patterson said.

“We were not as sharp on vault and actually got caught trying to stick our landing and coming up a little short. I think Ricki Lebegern did a great job with her new Yurchenko one and a half tonight, which is going to help us down the road.”

Dennis scored a 9.875 to lead the Tide to a 49.075 floor exercise total. Price scored a 9.85 and Lebegern led Alabama off with a 9.825. LSU scored a 48.8 on the floor.

Alabama is at home next Friday, facing No. 3 Florida at 7:30 p.m.