After a strong performance against Georgia, Missouri gymnastics looked to continue their momentum in a Tiger versus Tiger matchup against LSU.

Missouri opened on vault while LSU was on uneven bars. Graduate Sienna Schreiber started vault with a solid 9.800. Schreiber was followed by freshman Rayna Light who scored a 9.850. The vault rotation was amplified after junior Grace Anne Davis stuck her Yurchenko full, earning a 9.875. 

Missouri continued to rally after freshman star Hannah Horton stuck her Yurchenko 1.5, but took a slight balance check and scored a 9.950. Junior Jocelyn Moore closed out the vault rotation with a massive Yurchenko 1.5 that achieved a 9.900. Missouri’s total score for the first rotation was 49.425. 

LSU applied pressure to Missouri with their bar rotation when LSU sophomore Ashley Cowan earned a 9.900. LSU was tested shortly after freshman Konnor McClain fell and scored a 9.175. Senior Haleigh Bryant recovered LSU’s score by performing a smooth routine that attained a 9.925. LSU wrapped up the first rotation with a score of 49.400.

Missouri moved to bars in the second rotation, with LSU on vault. Senior Kyra Burns started the Missouri Tigers off on bars by sticking her double layout dismount, gaining a 9.875. Senior Amaya Marshall brought the crowd to its feet with a spectacular bar routine that earned a 9.900. Moore built off the audience’s hype and stuck her full twisting double back dismount, bringing in a 9.875. Senior Mara Titarsolej completed Missouri’s stellar second rotation with a 9.875 to give them a total score of 49.400. 

Graduate Savannah Schoenherr built momentum for LSU on vault with a great Yurchenko 1.5 that scored a 9.900. Bryant completed LSU’s vault rotation with her sky-high front pike half that produced a 9.900, boosting LSU’s total score for the second rotation to 49.325. 

Heading into the third rotation, the Missouri Tigers led the LSU Tigers 98.825-98.725 as LSU moved to floor and Missouri took to beam. Marshall got Missouri off to a confident start with a solid beam routine, scoring a 9.750. Junior Amari Celestine continued Missouri’s strong beam rotation with a 9.825. Schreiber, who is typically the definition of confident on beam, fell and scored a 9.350. Missouri wrapped up the third rotation with a total score of 48.900. 

On floor, junior Sierra Ballard started LSU off with a slightly shaky routine after underrotating her double pike, scoring a 9.775. However, McClain got LSU back under control, scoring a 9.875.  Junior Aleah Finnegan, who is typically extremely confident on floor, fell on her last tumbling pass and scored a 9.350. Graduate Kiya Johnson completed LSU’s floor rotation with a 9.900 to give LSU a combined score of 49.150.

After the third rotation, LSU slightly overtook Missouri 147.875-147.725. Missouri finished the competition on floor while LSU finished on beam. 

Schreiber quickly recovered from her mistakes on beam with a stellar floor routine that scored a 9.900. Light followed with another 9.900. Celestine felt the momentum of the audience and climbed to a third 9.900 for Missouri. 

Ballard began LSU’s beam rotation with a confident 9.850. Sophomore Annie Beard followed Ballard with a shaky routine, scoring a 9.750 that opened the door for Missouri. McClain once again brought LSU’s confidence back with a perfect beam routine earning a 10.000. LSU completed their beam rotation with a score of 49.350. 

Missouri freshman Kennedy Griffin challenged McClain’s stellar routine by performing a near perfect exercise and scoring a career high 9.975 in just her third NCAA floor routine. 

It was Missouri’s Moore who brought it home. She closed the night with a crowd pleasing floor routine that scored a 9.925. The Missouri Tigers finished their floor rotation with a massive 49.600. Missouri narrowly bested LSU 197.325-197.225. 

In addition to winning the meet, Missouri also won multiple individual titles. Horton won the vault title with her 9.950 and Griffin won the floor title with her 9.975. LSU gymnasts took the rest of the titles. Bryant won bars with a 9.925, McClain won beam after scoring a 10.000, and Johnson won the all-around with a 39.500. 

Overall, the Missouri Tigers exited the night with a lot of success. Winning this meet was a complete upset against LSU and positions Missouri well for the rest of the season. Missouri has now completed three of their seven SEC matchups, losing to Alabama while defeating Georgia and LSU. 

In the coming weeks, the Missouri Tigers will compete against Kentucky, Florida, Auburn and Arkansas. On Feb. 3, Missouri will have a break from conference play as they compete against Texas Woman’s. 

Edited by Michael Stamps

Copy Edited by Briana Iordan

Edited by Scout Hudson | shudson@themaneater.com