No. 12 Auburn will have a meet with No. 3 LSU on Friday night in Baton Rouge. Auburn is coming off their best season score just one week ago against Alabama, but it will take that effort and possibly more to defeat LSU.
LSU currently sits atop the SEC rankings with the highest team average in the SEC of 197.596. In their previous meet, they defeated Georgia on the road with a score of 197.625. A week earlier at home, they had their highest score of the year with a 198.475.
Auburn’s best score so far this season was in their last meet, in which they scored a 197.725. That is just above LSU’s average score, but Auburn’s overall average is 197.079. To take down LSU in their gymnasium it will take a special night.
LSU is led by one of if not the best gymnasts in the country. Her name is Haleigh Bryant and in LSU’s last meet, she became just the 14th gymnast to ever score a 10 in every event in NCAA history. Her average score in the all-around average is the highest in college gymnastics with a strong 39.740.
While Bryant is a crucial part of LSU, she is certainly not the only reason LSU is so special this year. LSU as a unit ranks inside the top ten in every single event. The events they rank the highest in are floor and vault which they rank number three and number two respectively.
Auburn, however, is extremely talented itself. In its meet against Alabama, Cassie Stevens had a career night. She scored a 39.700 in the all-around helping propel Auburn against its arch rival.
"It was crazy. I wasn't really expecting it," Stevens said. "I have been working a lot on the little details. To be able to put together a solid performance for my team is really rewarding."
Auburn tied its program-high score on vault in its last meet and set its high on floor and beam. The visiting Tigers will hope to build on those scores Friday night in Baton Rouge.
The meet will be another tough challenge, but also a great opportunity. The meet will begin at 8:00 PM Friday on the SEC Network.
