[su_spacer size=”40″] Behind strong finishes from Brittany Rogers and Mary Beth Box on beam, the No. 15 Georgia gymnastics team staved off a comeback by Arkansas to win its first meet of the season 196.775–196.700 at Barnhill Arena on Friday.
[su_spacer size=”40″] As the score tightened in the final rotation, Rogers and Box posted 9.9 and 9.875 scores, respectively, on beam to seal the victory and hold off a rally by the 16th-ranked Razorbacks.
[su_spacer size=”40″] Rogers picked up her first all-around title of the season with a score of 39.425 (9.9s on bars and beam, 9.875 on vault and 9.75 on floor).
[su_spacer size=”40″] Brandie Jay also had a notable effort as she took home the performance of the night with her 9.95 showing on vault.
[su_spacer size=”40″] “Huge improvement from last week,” said Georgia head coach Danna Durante, whose team improved to 1-1 overall and 1-0 against SEC competition. “For it to come down to the last event, the event that we knew we needed to be better on, for them to come in and show that was phenomenal. I’m unbelievably proud. These guys never gave up and just kept fighting, and that’s what this team is really made of.”
[su_spacer size=”40″] Georgia held a 49.200-48.975 lead after the first rotation, paced by Rogers’ 9.9 as the anchor on bars. The Gymdogs got off to a strong start with Natalie Vaculik’s 9.875 to lead off the rotation and did well from top to bottom on the bars as four of six competitors registered a 9.825 or higher.
[su_spacer size=”40″] The Gymdogs shined in the second rotation, building their lead with a team score of 49.375 on vault. The visitors were again led by their anchor, with Jay posting the 9.95. All six Gymdogs registered, at least, a 9.825 as they built a 98.575-98.225 lead through two events.
[su_spacer size=”40″] Arkansas closed the gap while on beam, taking the third rotation 49.2-49.1. Once again it was Jay who recorded the best score for Georgia, pulling home a 9.875 to close out the floor routines. Gigi Marino and Box added 9.85s.
[su_spacer size=”40″] Leading by .25 heading into the final rotation, Ashlyn Broussard set the tone with a 9.875 to get the Gymdogs started on the beam. Rogers posted a 9.9 as the meet tightened with a strong performance from Arkansas on floor. Box finished off the night, posting a 9.875 and securing the win for Georgia.
[su_spacer size=”40″] The Gymdogs will have their Stegeman Coliseum opener Monday at two p.m. against No. 22 Stanford.
[su_spacer size=”40″] Gymdogs’ Results
1. Georgia – 196.775
2. Arkansas – 196.700

Bars

Natalie Vaculik – 9.85, Gracie Cherrey – 9.8, Sydney Snead – 9.2, Rachel Schick – 9.825, Brandie Jay – 9.825, Brittany Rogers – 9.9

Vault

Ashlyn Broussard – 9.825, Natalie Vaculik – 9.825, Sydney Snead – 9.85, Gigi Marino – 9.875, Brittany Rogers – 9.875, Brandie Jay – 9.975

Floor

Sydney Snead – 9.775, Vivi Babalis – 9.725, Gigi Marino – 9.850, Mary Beth Box – 9.850, Brittany Rogers – 9.750, Brandie Jay – 9.875

Beam

Ashlyn Broussard – 9.875, Vivi Babalis – 9.625, Rachel Schick – 9.825, Brittany Rogers – 9.900, Mary Beth Box – 9.875