Florida Gators

The No. 4 University of Florida gymnastics team (6-2, 5-1 SEC) posted its second-highest total of the season Friday to take a 196.80-195.70 win over No. 16 Auburn (2-5, 2-4 SEC) in front of a Beard-Eaves Memorial Coliseum of 4,019.

The Gators swept the event titles Friday, including freshman Ashan?e Dickerson picking up her fifth all-around title of the season with her total of 39.35. Fellow freshman Marissa King was runner-up at 39.275.

Gator head coach Rhonda Faehn thought the team's strong start help set the tone for their performance Friday.

“I was really pleased with the initial start of the competition. They came out on bars and were immediately aggressive – hitting handstands and really going for the stuck landings. I think that really started the momentum that we carried through on vault and throughout the whole competition,” Faehn said. “I thought they were aggressive but calm, and at the same time, they created a lot of energy themselves. This is the first time on the road that we've seen this team have this much energy.”

Florida opened the meet with a season-best 49.325 on the uneven bars. That score was boosted with the top bar marks of the meet of 9.875 from Florida's final three competitors – Elizabeth Mahlich, Amanda Castillo and Maranda Smith. That mark is a collegiate-best for Mahlich and matches Castillo's and Smith's season-best.

The Gators also swept the top three spots in the evening's vault competition. Senior Courtney Gladys nailed her Yurchenko half twist off, front layout vault for a season-best 9.90 to collect her second vault win of 2010. Smith and Dickerson anchored the Gators' vault set with marks of 9.875 to share second overall.

Florida posted a 49.075 in the evening's floor exercise competition. There was a miss in the Gator lineup, but Faehn like the way the gymnasts following performed.

“Our athletes responded really well to a miss,” Faehn said. “Ashan?e did one of her best floor routines of the year – she does amazing routines every time – but it was phenomenal for her and Maranda (Smith) to go up after a miss not holding back.”

Dickerson picked up fourth floor title of the season with Friday's mark of 9.875. UF's Amy Ferguson and Marissa King shared third overall at 9.825 with AU's Toi Garcia and Kylie Shields.

The Gators turned in a six-for-six beam set to finish the meet with an event score of 49.10. Gladys shared her second event title of the evening with freshman teammate Liz Green, as each turned in beam marks of 9.85. At the UK dual meet earlier this season, Gladys also claimed a share of the vault and beam titles. For Green, it was her fourth beam win of 2010.

Next week, Florida returns home to play host to North Carolina (6-3) and Ball State (5-6) on Friday, March 5. Meet time is set for 7 p.m. in the Stephen C. O'Connell Center. Look for a half price admission coupon to the triangular in Thursday's edition of the Gainesville Sun. The first 500 fans at Friday's meet receive a free cinch bag. For a complete list of promotions for Friday's meet, please visit the gymnastics promotions page here. The meet will air March 14 at 9 a.m. on Sun Sports.