GymDogs Finish Strong at LSU, Post a 196.375

Friday, January 22

Baton Rouge, La.

8:15 PM

University of Georgia

196.375

197.200

LSU

January 22, 2021 | Gymnastics

BATON ROUGE, La. --- The University of Georgia gymnastics team finished strong and showed continued improvement with a 196.375 against the LSU Tigers at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center on Friday night.

The 196.375 was Georgia's best score after three meets, but the team ultimately fell to LSU's 197.200.

"We had a really strong finish tonight and saw improvements across the board," Georgia head coach Courtney Kupets Carter said. "We hit a lot of goals in this meet and many of the gymnasts hit their best scores. Sterlyn (Austin) on floor- wow! I can't wait for that energy in Stegeman. And Haley (de Jong) on beam- it was beautiful. We still have a few athletes out with injuries and our lineups keep changing, but everyone is stepping up and doing their part. We are getting there and I'm happy with the continued progress."

The GymDogs started competition on bars with a 49.075. Georgia improved its score from a week ago and three gymnasts scored their best marks of the season, including Amanda Cashman (9.775), Emily Schild (9.800), and Haley de Jong (9.875). In her bars debut, junior Rachel Baumann scored a 9.775 and Megan Roberts also contributed a 9.85.

Roberts led the GymDogs on vault, scoring a 9.85 in the anchor position. In her first time competing vault this season, Cashman notched the team's second highest score of the day- a 9.825. De Jong, Rachael Lukacs and Abbey Ward all scored a 9.775 for a team total of 49.000 in the second rotation.

The GymDogs added a 49.175 on floor. Senior Sterlyn Austin shattered her career-high score with an enthusiastic 9.875 to lead the squad in the event and Cashman matched that. Junior Alyssa Perez-Lugones earned her best score of the season, 9.825, followed by Roberts and sophomore Soraya Hawthorne both contributing a 9.800.

The GymDogs finished strong on beam with a 49.125. De Jong led the team, matching her career- best 9.925. Hawthorne debuted the Georgia moonwalk tradition in her routine and scored a 9.800. In her first time competing as a GymDogs, freshman Katie Finnegan received a 9.800 for her performance. Schild and Baumann contributed scores of 9.800 as well to finish the meet for Georgia.

Georgia is back home in Stegeman Coliseum next week as the GymDogs take on Arkansas on Friday, January 29 at 8:30 p.m.

FINAL RESULTS
GEORGIA- 196.375 (VT- 49.000, UB- 49.075, BB- 49.125, FX- 49.175)
LSU- 197.200 (VT- 49.275, UB- 49.125, BB- 49.350, FX-49.450)

VAULT: 49.000
Rachel Baumann- 9.625
Haley de Jong- 9.775
Amanda Cashman- 9.825
Rachael Lukacs- 9.775
Abbey Ward- 9.775
Megan Roberts- 9.850

BARS: 49.075
Amanda Cashman- 9.775
Emily Schild- 9.800
Rachel Baumann- 9.775
Haley de Jong- 9.875
Megan Roberts- 9.85
Abbey Ward- 9.575

BEAM: 49.125
Emily Schild- 9.800
Katie Finnegan- 9.750
Rachael Lukacs- 9.800
Soraya Hawthorne- 9.800
Haley de Jong- 9.925
Rachel Baumann- 9.800

FLOOR: 49.175
Alyssa Perez-Lugones- 9.825
Sterlyn Austin- 9.875
Megan Roberts- 9.800
Amanda Cashman- 9.875
Soraya Hawthorne- 9.800
Rachel Baumann- 9.600