FORT WORTH, Texas – The No. 5 Alabama gymnastics team tallied a 196.575 to tie No. 4 Denver for second place at the Metroplex Challenge in Ft. Worth, Texas, Saturday night. No. 1 Oklahoma took the win with a 197.525 and No. 18 Georgia scored a 196.300 to take fourth.
The Crimson Tide got off to a strong start, posting a season-best 49.450 on the uneven bars led by a career-best 9.925 from sophomore Jensie Givens. It was Alabama’s second uneven bars total of 49.4+ in a row.
Alabama also got 9.9s from junior Lexi Graber (floor exercise and uneven bars) and sophomore Emily Gaskins (uneven bars).
“We got off a to really strong start tonight on the uneven bars,” Alabama coach Dana Duckworth said. “That’s the second week in a row that we’ve scored better than a 49.400. I was very proud of Jensie (Givens), that was the best uneven bars routine she’s done in competition. We didn’t finish as strong as we started and that’s definitely something we have to work on going forward. We had a few major mistakes, but those are things that we can fix going forward. Right now, we’re looking to get back in the gym, work on the details before heading to Baton Rouge and LSU.”
The Crimson Tide started the night with a season-best 49.450 on the uneven bars, led by a career-best 9.925 by sophomore Jensie Givens and 9.9s from sophomore Emily Gaskins and junior Lexi Graber.
Alabama closed a 49.100 balance beam rotation with back-to-back 9.875s from sophomore Luisa Blanco and Graber.
Graber also led the way on the floor exercise, posting a 9.900 to pace the Tide to a 49.075.
Alabama scored a 48.950 on the vault to close the meet, led by 9.825s from sophomore Shallon Olsen and Blanco.
Alabama travels to Baton Rouge, La. to compete against the No. 8 LSU Tigers on Friday, Jan. 31 at 7:30 p.m. CT.
