Tuscaloosa, Ala. – Suni Lee scored two perfect 10's, but Alabama was just a little too much for Auburn to handle.
"I told the girls I don't know if there's ever been an Auburn gymnast who got a 10 in Coleman Coliseum," said Auburn head coach Jeff Graba. "But she (Lee) goes and gets two. It's nice to see the competitor step up."
The Auburn Tigers (3-4, 1-2 SEC) fell 197.850-197.700 to the Alabama Crimson Tide (3-2, 2-2 SEC).
"I just thought they did a really good job of handling the awesome environment in here," Graba said. "Coleman Coliseum is back. This is what I remember of the rivalry, this is the craziness it creates."
"We obviously just made a few more mistakes than them but I told the girls I'm really proud of them."
The first rotation saw Auburn on bars and Alabama on vault. Suni Lee scored a perfect 10, giving her the Tigers' high score on bars. Luisa Blanco received a 9.950 making her the highest scorer for Alabama.
"It means a lot especially here in Alabama," Lee said on her two perfect ten meet. "We obviously wanted to win but it felt really good because the last few weeks I just haven't been my best so to come out here and do it two times is just a great feeling."
Auburn was on vault and Alabama was on bars in the second rotation. Lee once again led Auburn with a 9.900. Makarri Doggette was the highest scorer for the Crimson Tide with a 9.950.
In the third rotation, Auburn was on floor and Alabama was on beam. Lee and Derrian Gobourne tied for Auburn's high score, both recording a 9.925. Blanco led Alabama with the second perfect 10 of the night.
The final rotation had Auburn the Tigers on beam and the Crimson Tide on floor. Lee was Auburn's highest scorer with her second perfect 10 of the meet. Blanco and Lilly Hudson co-led Alabama on floor, both scoring a 9.975.
Lee won the all-around for Auburn with a 39.825. Blanco was Alabama's highest scorer and finished second with a 39.750.
"If we can come into this place where everyone is rooting against you and still have a good meet, I think that definitely prepares us and allows us to strengthen our bubble and focus just on us," said Cassie Stevens. "We can definitely take that with us going forward."
Auburn will be back in action at home next Friday against the LSU Tigers. The meet is set for 7:30 p.m. CT.
