FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The LSU gymnastics team tallied the highest vault team score since 2008 with a 49.500, and the Tigers used that momentum to score a season-high 196.325 Friday night against No. 3 Arkansas in Barnhill Arena.
LSU (1-5, 1-1 Southeastern Conference) fell to Arkansas as the Razorbacks scored a school-record 197.225 with a record crowd of 5,537 in attendance.
The Tigers earned a 49.0 or higher on three of four events, including the 49.500 on vault that ranks as the sixth-best team score in that event in school history.
"I'm very pleased with how we performed tonight," head coach D-D Breaux said. "Our gymnasts showed a lot of resolve after a lackluster showing in warm-ups. We came out with a solid team score with great effort and performances throughout the meet."
Individually, several Tigers earned career highs against the Razorbacks.
LSU's three freshmen all-arounders set career highs as they all scored a 39.300 or higher. Rheagan Courville placed third in the all-around with a 39.375, while Lloimincia Hall was fourth at 39.325 and Jessie Jordan was fifth with a 39.300.
Senior Ashley Lee and Courville shared the vault title with career-high 9.950's. Back in the lineup after missing the Auburn meet, Kaleigh Dickson tallied a career-best 9.875 on vault. Jordan earned a personal best of 9.85 on vault, and Maliah Mathis scored a season-high 9.85.
Sarie Morrison and Hall led LSU on bars with 9.85's, and freshman Randi Lau earned a career-high 9.80 to help lead LSU to a 49.000 in the event.
Courville came up just short of her season high on floor as she led the team with a 9.875, and Jordan matched her season best with a 9.85.
On beam, Jordan led the team and tied her personal best with a 9.875, and Dickson tied her career mark with a 9.825. Ericka Garcia, Hall and Courville tallied 9.775's to guide LSU to its first 49 score of the season on beam at 49.025.
Arkansas improved to 6-0 overall and 2-0 against SEC competition, and the Razorbacks were led by sophomore Katherine Grable who captured the all-around title with a 39.725.
"It was a very good team that beat us tonight, but this was a winnable meet for us," Breaux said. "We overcame clutter before the meet, and I was really pleased with how we fought. Now, we need to go in the gym, develop some consistency, work on our landings and keep getting better."
LSU will stay on the road next week when the Tigers face sixth-ranked Georgia who defeated Auburn 195.975-195.600 Friday night.
The meet is scheduled to begin at 3 p.m. CT on Jan. 28 from Georgia's Stegeman Coliseum.
Information provided by LSU Sports
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