The 10th-ranked Georgia gymnastics team fell to No. 1 Oklahoma 197.375-196.750 on Saturday afternoon in front of 10,224 fans in Stegeman Coliseum.
The Gymdogs fell to 4-4 on the year, including a 4-1 mark in the Southeastern Conference, while the Sooners improve to 17-1 overall.
“Today was another opportunity to build on that momentum, and I think we did that in a lot of spots,” Georgia head coach Danna Durante said. “We still have to settle down on beam. That’s what I told the team at the end. Our desire to fight has to be stronger than anything else. Like (Mary Beth Box) said, we’re completely capable. We’ve shown it. It just has to be a day-in and day-out and a meet-in and meet-out thing. I know we’re going to get there. I’m going to stay with that focus. Eyes forward.”
Georgia opened the meet with a 49.275 on vault. Brandie Jay led the Gymdogs with a 9.9 on the event.Gigi Marino and Sydney Snead added a pair of 9.85s, while Brittany Rogers posted a 9.875. After Oklahoma’s 49.450 on bars, Georgia trailed going into the second rotation.
Jay and Rogers led Georgia on bars, both posting a score of 9.9 en route to Georgia’s 49.4 on the event. Rachel Schick and Snead put up a score of 9.875. With the Sooners 49.325 on vault, the Gymdogs trailed 98.775-98.675 at the halfway point.
Georgia was highlighted on beam with 9.85s from Ashlyn Broussard, Jay and Natalie Vaculik. Box added a 9.825 in the closing spot to give the Gymdogs a 48.675 on the event. Going into the final rotation, Oklahoma, after posting a 49.1 on floor, held a 147.875-147.350 lead over Georgia.
On floor, Georgia posted three 9.9s in a row with Marino leading it off while also tying her career high. Box and Jay followed suit, both notching a 9.9. Snead performed in the closing spot, posting a 9.85 to give Georgia a 49.4 on the event. Oklahoma turned in a 49.5 on beam to seal the win.
“We’re really proud of what we did,” Box said. “Our goal this whole month has been to build and continue to build. We feel like we’ve been building this whole time. One of our big things is to not focus too much on the highs and too much on the lows, but just to stay in the process and know each time we’re just trying to get better. We’re not going to give up. We’re going to fight.”
The Gymdogs will travel to Alabama on Friday for their first road meet since January. The meet is slated to begin at 8:30 p.m. ET and will be broadcast live on the SEC Network.
Team Results
1. Oklahoma – 197.375 (VT- 49.325, UB- 49.450, BB- 49.5, FX- 49.1)
2. Georgia – 196.750 (VT- 49.275, UB- 49.4, BB- 48.675, FX- 49.4)
Vault
Ashlyn Broussard — 9.8, Natalie Vaculik — 9.8, Gigi Marino — 9.85, Sydney Snead — 9.85, Brittany Rogers – 9.875, Brandie Jay – 9.9
Bars
Natalie Vaculik – 9.85, Gracie Cherrey — 9.85, Sydney Snead — 9.875, Rachel Schick — 9.875, Brandie Jay – 9.9, Brittany Rogers – 9.9
Beam
Natalie Vaculik – 9.85, Brandie Jay — 9.85, Brittany Rogers — 9.3, Vivi Babalis – 9.175, Ashlyn Broussard – 9.85, Mary Beth Box – 9.825
Floor
Vivi Babalis — 9.675, Brittany Rogers — 9.85, Gigi Marino – 9.9, Mary Beth Box – 9.9, Brandie Jay – 9.9,Sydney Snead — 9.85