Florida Gators

The No. 5 University of Florida gymnastics team (5-2, 1-2 SEC) held a narrow .125 lead heading into the final rotation at No. 17 Auburn (2-7, 0-3 SEC) Friday evening . Florida responded with a six-for-six balance beam set to finish with a 196.00-195.575 win Friday evening in front of a Beard-Eaves Memorial Coliseum crowd of 2,117.

“I love it when it comes down to situations like that,” UF Head Coach Rhonda Faehn said. “That shows the true strength of the team. We didn't have a fall in the set (beam). The team had the right mindset. They were very calm and aggressive – that is how we want them to compete. I was really impressed with how they performed tonight. They did a phenomenal job.”

On the final rotation, Florida used four scores of 9.80 or better towards its second-highest beam total of 2006 (49.025). Junior Samantha Lutz led the Gators on the event, sharing second overall at 9.85 with AU's Lindsey Puckett. Sophomore Ashley Reed started off Florida with a beam mark of 9.825.

The first rotation saw the Gators turn in a total of 48.85 on the uneven bars. For the fourth time this season, Lutz led the Gators on the event, posting a 9.825 Friday evening. The mark gave Lutz her second uneven bars title of the season. Freshman Corey Hartung also posted a 9.80 on the event to share second with AU's Karmen Pinckney and Julie Dwyer.

Florida used marks of 9.80 or better to earn its second-highest vault team total of the season (49.175). For the second time of 2006, sophomores Tiffany Murry and Reed shared the vault title as each turned in marks of 9.875 Friday. For Murry, it is her fourth vault title of the season. Hartung upped her collegiate-best vault mark to 9.825 to share third with AU's Lindsey Puckett.

Florida's floor total of 48.95 was hurt Friday by an out of bounds deduction. Hartung matched her collegiate-best of 9.90 for the second consecutive week to win her second straight floor title. Junior Breanne King also turned in a season-best floor mark of 9.825 Friday.

“We know they are tired physically and mentally after three consecutive SEC meets. It is pretty tiring,” Faehn said. “We had to rest Nicola (Willis) tonight. But everyone stepped up tonight. Chantelle (Tousek) came in and hit a great routine on beam (her first competitive routine of the season, earning a 9.80). Corey (Hartung) came in on vault and did a great job. I feel Corey is just getting stronger and more confident in each meet.”

Auburn's Dwyer, the current Southeastern Conference Gymnast of the Week, just edged Hartung for the all-around title, 39.375-39.325. Dwyer also won the beam title with a mark of 9.925.

Florida returns home to play host to a quadrangular meet on Friday, Feb. 10 versus No. 21 Arkansas, No. 25 North Carolina and West Virginia. Meet time is set for 7 p.m. in the Stephen C. O'Connell Center. Tickets are $4.00 for adults, while children 17 and under plus UF students with ID are admitted free. Complimentary tickets for Friday's meet are available at all Gainesville Quality Cleaners locations.