Senior Haleigh Bryant took another step back toward being an all-arounder again and freshman Kailin Chio turned in another clutch performance Friday as LSU posted a gritty 197.300-197.075 road win at Alabama.
The Tigers won for just the seventh time in 33 road meets at Tuscaloosa, improving to 6-2 overall and 3-1 in the Southeastern Conference. No. 14 Alabama fell to 1-4 and 0-4 in the SEC.
LSU’s performance, coupled with Florida’s season-worst score in a 197.175-196.625 loss at Arkansas, sets up a 1-2 matchup next Friday in the Pete Maravich Assembly Center between No. 1 Oklahoma and the No. 2 Tigers. OU beat Kentucky 197.825-197.225 at home Friday.
Bryant, still building her repertoire after suffering an elbow injury on vault in LSU’s December exhibition meet, returned on that event for the first time. She scored a 9.925 to go with a 9.875 on floor and a 9.85 on beam.
While Bryant made news, Chio continued to go about her business with cool confidence. She won her second straight all-around crown with a second straight 39.650, including winning scores of 9.975 on vault (tied for the best score in the nation entering the week) and a 9.925 on balance beam.
LSU’s Ashley Cowan and Konnor McClain tied for first on beam with Bama’s Lilly Hudson and Chloe LaCoursiere with 9.90 scores. Bama’s Gabby Gladieaux won floor with a 9.975.
Gladieaux’s routine closed out the night and thrilled the Coleman Coliseum crowd, but LSU had already clinched the dual meet title on Aleah Finnegan’s 9.875 in the anchor spot on beam.
LSU and Oklahoma is set for 8 p.m. next Friday in the PMAC on ESPN2.
