The No. 7 University of Florida gymnastics team (5-7, 1-3 SEC) was defeated by No. 13 Louisiana State University (6-2, 2-2 SEC) Friday evening in the Pete Maravich Assembly Center. LSU turned in a 196.475, while the Gators posted a 195.625. The meet was a typical tight contest between the two Southeastern Conference rivals, as the competition was the 15th meeting since 1992 that less than a point separated the two squads.
The No. 7 University of Florida gymnastics team (5-7, 1-3 SEC) was defeated by No. 13 Louisiana State University (6-2, 2-2 SEC) Friday evening in the Pete Maravich Assembly Center. LSU turned in a 196.475, while the Gators posted a 195.625. The meet was a typical tight contest between the two Southeastern Conference rivals, as the competition was the 15th meeting since 1992 that less than a point separated the two squads.
"We had some uncharacteristic trouble on floor, which forced us to go into the final rotation down three-tenths to LSU," UF Head Coach Judi Markell said. "It was a tough loss. It felt like we could have won, but just didn't get it done. We will go back to work next week with a vengeance."
The Gators opened the meet with their second-highest team scores of the season on the uneven bars (49.10) and vault (48.975). Senior Gabby Fuchs led the Gators on the bars, tying for second overall at 9.90. Florida then moved to the vault, where four Gators shared the meet's top honors with LSU's Marina Degteva at 9.80. The Gators that were among the crowd at the top of the podium were Fuchs, Krissy Dreger, Kara Waterhouse, and Lindsey Miner, as each turned in marks of 9.80.
Florida was forced to count a fall on the floor exercise for the first time this season. Miner matched her collegiate-best mark of 9.90 to lead the Gators on the event. Florida did not count any falls toward its balance beam team total (48.85), but could not keep up with the Tigers, who had three gymnasts score 9.925 or above on their final event, the floor exercise. Nicki Arnstad claimed the evening's floor exercise title with a mark of 9.975. Beth Boudreaux, who won the evening's all-around title at 39.425, also claimed the balance beam title at 9.90. Florida's Teal Chiabotti was second in the beam competition with a season-best mark of 9.875.
The Gators take next weekend off to prepare to play host to the Rydell High Reunion presented by Gatorade featuring No. 9 Iowa State, No. 23 Kentucky and Ball State on March 2. Meet time is set for 7 p.m. in the Stephen C. O'Connell Center.
Team Totals
| | Vault | Bars | Beam | Floor | rank | Total |
| LSU | 48.525 | 49.350 | 49.100 | 49.50 | 1 | 196.475 |
| Florida | 48.975 | 49.100 | 48.850 | 48.700 | 2 | 195.625 |
