No. 15 Missouri gymnastics defeated No. 18 Auburn 197.200-195.350, earning the team’s third-highest score in the program’s history, at Hearnes Center on Friday.
The total team score is Missouri’s highest since the 2004 season, when the team scored the two highest totals in school history with a 197.425 and a 197.350. The Tigers also tied the program record for beam with a score of 49.325 and tied their third-best score on the bars with a 49.325.
“It’s a great time of year to be doing this,” coach Shannon Welker said. “We’re hitting the end of the season and heading into postseason. This is really what I believe they’re capable of doing.”
The Tigers started the meet with vault for the first rotation earning a 49.150, the team’s ninth consecutive meet with a score of 49.050 or higher in the event. The rotation was led by sophomore Britney Ward and freshman Aspen Tucker, who both finished with 9.900s. Junior Kennedi Harris earned a 9.800 to follow, and both sophomore Madeleine Huber and junior Shauna Miller posted 9.775s to help the Tigers score.
“We knew we had a great start all the way from vault,” Ward said. “We just kept rolling. I couldn’t have asked for a better night.”
Bars were the second rotation, and Huber earned a 9.925 to lead the team. Miller tied a season-high score with a 9.875, and Tucker, junior Becca Schugel and sophomore Brooke Kelly all tallied 9.850s to earn the overall event total 49.350. This score ties the third-best Missouri score in the event in program history.
The Tigers tied yet another program record, earning a 49.325 on the beam. The Tigers who competed in the event all earned a score of 9.800 or higher. Ward was the key to the rotation, tying a career-high as she earned a 9.950 for the second week in a row. Junior Tia Allbritten earned a career-high score of 9.875, and Kelly tied her career high as well with a 9.875. Sophomore Allison Bower scored a 9.825, and Tucker finished out the event with a 9.800.
The Tigers closed out the meet on the floor and earned a season-high score of 49.375 to come out on top. Harris recorded a career-high 9.950, her seventh score of 9.900 or higher this season. Tucker and Schugel claimed personal-best scores, both earning a 9.900. Adding to the total score, Bower earned a 9.825, Huber a 9.800 and Kelly a 9.775.
“It feels really good as a freshman to have all these small accomplishments, especially knowing I have a great team behind me,” Tucker said.
Mizzou swept all four events and the all-around titles.
“The girls are doing the things I know they are capable of,” Welker said. “Tonight’s meet highlighted that.”
Junior Kennedi Harris took the floor title with a career-high score of 9.950, and sophomore Madeleine Huber scored the win on bars with a career-high-tying 9.925.
The victory puts Mizzou’s record at 9-7 overall and 2-4 in the Southeastern Conference.
“We know we have been capable of this all along,” Ward said. “This meet just showed that we are ready to continue on to the postseason.”
The Tigers will finish their regular season when they host No. 11 Kentucky at 7 p.m. March 10.
_Edited by Eli Lederman | elederman@themaneater.com_
