The No. 10 Georgia gymnastics team fell to Auburn, 197.325-197.275, on Friday night in Stegeman Coliseum in front of 10,026 fans.
Georgia dropped 4-6 on the season with a 4-3 mark in the Southeastern Conference. Auburn improved 7-5 overall (3-3 SEC).
“For the second time this season we put four events together,” Georgia head coach Danna Durante said. “We had a little struggle on bars, but this team showed great resilience. We showed great fight on beam and that’s what we’ve talked about. Tonight was about fighting for everything and we saw the results of that. That was a great fight and this meet was a great building block moving forward.”
Georgia jumped out to a lead over Auburn after one rotation. Brandie Jay anchored the Gymdogs with a 9.95 on vault. Brittany Rogers added a 9.925. Both Gigi Marino and Lauren Johnson posted 9.85s to give Georgia a 49.4 on the event, while Auburn scored a 49.35 on bars.
In the bars rotation, the Gymdogs were carried by Rachel Schick’s 9.925. Natalie Vaculik posted a 9.875 and Jay scored a 9.85 to give Georgia a total 49.075 on the event. After Auburn’s 49.375 on vault, Georgia trailed 98.725-98.425.
Ashlyn Broussard and Mary Beth Box went back-to-back with 9.925s on beam to round out the rotation. Jay put up a 9.875 for the Gymdogs to give them a 49.025 on the event. Auburn scored a 49.35 on bars. Heading into the final rotation, Georgia trailed 148.035-147.725.
On floor, the Gymdogs finished 9.95, 9.925 and 9.925 by Marino, Box and Jay, respectively. Babalis and Sydney Snead added on 9.875s to give Georgia a 49.55 on the event. Auburn posted a beam score of 49.3.
Friday’s meet also served as senior night for Box, Jay, Rogers and undergraduate coach Anysia Unick.
“It’s hard knowing that I’m leaving the best school in the nation,” Rogers said of senior night. “I didn’t have my best night, but this isn’t the end of the season and there’s still more to come. It’s nice having peace knowing that we still have regionals here. That’s keeping my spirits high. It’s never fun to leave this great crowd and fans.”
Georgia has a quick turn around with its next meet coming this Sunday when they travel to the west coast to compete in a tri-meet with UCLA and Stanford at Pauley Pavilion at 3 p.m. ET. The meet will broadcast live on the Pac-12 Network.
The Georgia-Auburn meet will air on the SEC Network on Monday at 7 p.m.
Team Results
1. Auburn – 197.325 (VT- 49.375, UB- 49.350, BB- 49.3, FX- 49.300)
2. Georgia – 197.275 (VT- 49.400, UB- 49.075, BB- 49.250, FX- 49.55)
Vault
Ashlyn Broussard – 9.825, Lauren Johnson – 9.85, Gigi Marino – 9.85, Sydney Snead – 9.825, Brittany Rogers – 9.925, Brandie Jay – 9.95
Bars
Sydney Snead – 9.85, Lauren Johnson – 9.25, Natalie Vaculik – 9.875, Rachel Schick – 9.925, Brandie Jay – 9.85, Brittany Rogers – 9.575
Beam
Brandie Jay – 9.875, Natalie Vaculik – 9.75, Brittany Rogers – 9.75, Vivi Babalis – 9.775, Ashlyn Broussard – 9.925, Mary Beth Box – 9.925
Floor
Sydney Snead – 9.875, Vivi Babalis -9.875, Brittany Rogers – Gigi Marino – 9.95, Mary Beth Box – 9.925, Brandie Jay – 9.925