By outreach@cw.ua.edu (Matthew Speakman)
No. 3 Alabama opened its 2017 gymnastics season on Friday with a road loss to the No. 1 Oklahoma Sooners by a score of 197.750-196.700.
Alabama opened the meet on the uneven bars, earning a 49.325. Junior Kiana Winston led the way with a 9.9, while senior Amanda Jetter and junior Mackenzie Brannan both scored a 9.875. Oklahoma finished the event with a 49.575.
In the vault, senior Keely McNeer paced Alabama during the event, earning a 9.825. Freshman Maddie Desch, junior Nickie Guerrero and Winston each recorded a 9.8 and Alabama scored 49.000. The Sooners earned a 49.450 in the vault event.
During the floor exercise, Winston, Guerrero and sophomore Ari Guerra all scored 9.85 while Alabama tallied a 49.025 for the event overall. Oklahoma ended up with a 49.500 in the floor exercise.
In the final event for the Crimson Tide, Alabama scored a 49.350 in the balance beam, with Winston leading the way with a 9.95. Guerrero and senior Aja Sims each scored 9.875s. Oklahoma earned a 49.225 in the event.
“We came here with the goal of being competitively consistent throughout the night,” said UA head coach Dana Duckworth in a press release. “While we had many wonderful things happen tonight, we fell short of that goal in a few areas, especially vault and floor, which I expected based on where we’ve been in our preparation. The good news is that once we get the jitters out and start to move forward on those events, we will be where we want to be with a team that can be amazing.”
Next up, Alabama will face No. 2 LSU, the 2016 NCAA runner-up, on Jan. 13 in Coleman Coliseum. The meet will serve as the Crimson Tide’s home opener and will start at 7:30 p.m.
Source:: The Crimson White Sports
