The No. 6 University of Florida gymnastics team (14-2, 4-0 SEC) used the second-best total in school history to defeat defending national champion Alabama (7-6, 2-2 SEC) Friday evening in front of a Stephen C. O'Connell Center crowd of 3,588. The Gators posted a 197.125-196.60 victory, marking their first dual meet win over the Crimson Tide since Feb. 10, 1989.
"I was very happy with how [the team] did in each event," Florida Head Coach Rhonda Faehn said.
With the victory, UF (14-2, 4-0 SEC) has won six consecutive meets and remains undefeated in the Southeastern Conference. UF has scored higher than 197.00 in back-to-back meets for the first time in school history.
"I think we did a really solid job on vault and bars was just amazing once again," Faehn said.
The Gators matched their season-high total on vault for the third consecutive week with a 49.175. Senior Lindsey Miner placed second in the event with a 9.90 for the second time this season. Freshman Sherie Owens's collegiate-best 9.825 tied for fourth with teammate Erinn Dooley. The Crimson Tide opened the meet with a 49.35 on the uneven bars, giving UA a .175 lead over Florida after the first rotation.
Florida moved into first place with a .200 lead over Alabama after a solid bars performance. Junior Erin Pendleton won her fifth bars title this season with a 9.975. UF, the No. 1 bars team in the nation for the fourth straight week, recorded its second-best bars performance this season with a 49.500. Sophomore Orley Szmuch and junior Kristen Stucky shared third place in the event with a 9.90.
Four Gators posted a 9.8 or higher on beam, with junior Kristen Stucky placing second in the event with a 9.875. It was Stucky's seventh consecutive top-two finish on beam. Redshirt sophomore Alecia Ingram matched her season-best of 9.85, which tied for third with Alabama's Kristin Sterner. One Gator did fall midway through the set, but UF's remaining three competitors hit their routines. Florida's beam total of 49.125 gave it a .300 advantage over the Tide, which turned in a 49.025 on floor, heading into the final event.
"In beam, it was great to once again see the athletes remain extremely focused after Orley (Szmuch) fell, which is unusual for her—it was the first time all season—so for the three remaining to go up and hit as well as they did was great," Faehn said.
Four gymnasts tied for first place on floor. Senior Lindsey Miner and sophomore Orley Szmuch had a 9.90 along with Alabama's Jeana Rice and Stephanie Kite. Senior Jenny Carow and Dooley shared the second highest score in the event with a 9.85. It was the second consecutive meet both Dooley and Carow posted a 9.85. Florida finished the meet with a 49.325 on floor, while UA posted a 49.10 on the balance beam.
Miner took second in the all-around competition with a career best 39.425. Alabama's Rice claimed top honors in the all-around (39.55) and vault (9.95). UA's Dana Pierce also won the beam with a 9.90.
"It felt good to actually hit a meet," Miner said. "I haven't been too consistent this year, so it felt good to actually put it all together."
Freshman Sherie Owens suffered a subluxation of her right patella toward the end of her exhibition floor routine. Owens will be out for approximately 4-6 weeks.
Next up, Florida travels to No. 4 Georgia for a dual meet Feb. 28 at 7:30 p.m.
| No. 6 Florida vs. No. 2 Alabama /2-21-03 | Vault | Bars | Beam | Floor | Total |
| 1 | University of Florida | 49.175 | 49.500 | 49.125 | 49.325 | 197.125 |
| 2 | University of Alabama | 49.125 | 49.350 | 49.100 | 49.025 | 196.600 |
