The No. 16 University of Florida gymnastics team (11-8, 2-3 SEC) was edged by Auburn (7-9, 1-4 SEC) 195.35-195.30 Friday evening in front of a Beard-Eaves Memorial Coliseum crowd of 2,350.
Florida had some trouble in its opening event as the team was forced to count a fall toward its uneven bars team total of 48.45. Sophomore Erin Pendleton and senior Hilary Thompson turned in the Gators' top bars marks of 9.825 to tie for first in the final bars standings.
The Gators then moved to the vault, looking to make up the .45 deficit to Auburn after the first rotation. A 49.10 vault set – Florida's second highest of the year – narrowed the AU leads to just .05 after the second rotation. Florida's final four vaulters all turned in marks of 9.80 or better Friday evening. Gator freshman Orley Szmuch shared the evening's vault title with AU's Hannah Littrell at 9.875. Florida's other freshman, Kimberly Schatz, turned in her collegiate-best vault mark of 9.85 Friday to take third overall.
Florida posted its season-high floor total of 49.325 Friday, as the Gators' five scoring gymnasts each turned in marks of 9.825 or better. Thompson again led UF on the floor, taking the meet's title with a mark of 9.925. Junior Lindsey Miner equaled her collegiate-best floor mark of 9.90 for the eighth time in her Gator career to share second with Auburn's Lisa Clark.
Florida took a lead of .65 into the final rotation, but the Gators were forced to count a fall toward its team total of 48.425. The lead couldn't hold up as the Tigers turned in a season-best 49.125 on the floor. Thompson was the top Gator on the beam Friday, taking second with a 9.825. AU's Clark claimed the beam title with a score of 9.85.
Thompson claimed her second all-around title of the season Friday with a total of 39.375. AU's Courtney Puckett was runner-up at 38.80 and UF's Kara Waterhouse took third at 38.55.
"I have no explanation," UF Head Coach Judi Markell said. "Auburn did a good job all the way around tonight. The meet got tight and we didn't handle it well. I'm very disappointed in our performance tonight."
The Gators now travel to Salt Lake City, Utah, to meet No. 5 Utah on Saturday, March 16 to finish out the 2002 regular season. Meet time is set for 9:00 p.m. ET in the Huntsman Coliseum.
Team Totals
| | Vault | Bars | Beam | Floor | rank | Total |
| Auburn | 48.90 | 48.70 | 48.625 | 49.125 | 1 | 195.35 |
| Florida | 49.10 | 48.45 | 48.425 | 49.325 | 2 | 195.30 |
