Florida Gators

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – The Gator gymnastics team suffered its first defeat of 2017 Friday. Alabama took a 197.825-197.425 win in front of a Coleman Coliseum crowd of 14,423. The total was a season-high for the Tide while Florida's total is its high in 2017 road competition.  
 

Florida Event Winners Friday
Vault:	Rachel Slocum	9.925

Friday was Alabama's 13^th annual Power of Pink meet. Most of the SEC's gymnastics teams will have a pink meet this season, with the intention to help raise awareness about the fight against breast cancer. Florida wore pink for the second consecutive weekend, as UF played host to their 11^th annual Link to Pink meet last Friday.
 
Florida opened the meet on uneven bars. Junior Alex McMurtry's 9.90 led UF on the event, as she tied for third in the final bar standings.

Junior Rachel Slocum shared the evening's vault title with Alabama's Nickie Guerrero at 9.925. McMurtry and Kennedy Baker shared third at 9.90 as the Gators posted a 49.35 for the event. It was Slocum's second vault title as a Gator and the fifth of her collegiate career.
 
Kennedy Baker's 9.95 on floor led Florida Friday. Sophomore Alicia Boren also turned in a 9.925 to help Florida earn a 49.45 on the event.
 
Heading into the final rotation, Florida trailed the Tide by 0.075. The Gators went six-for-six on beam, but couldn't keep up the Tide's marks on floor exercise – including the nation's third 10.0 on the event of 2017 - as the lead expanded to four-tenths in the final standings. Freshman Amelia Hundley equaled her collegiate best on the event for the second consecutive week, using a 9.90 to be among a three-way tie for second.
 
Alabama's Kiana Winston won all-around (39.70), bars (9.95) and finished the meet with a 10.0 on floor exercise. Guerrero won beam at 9.95. Florida's Baker took second in the all-around when matched her season-best of 39.575. Hundley was third in all-around at 39.45.



HOME SWEET HOME:
Since 2003, Florida and Alabama have taken the home win in each of their 15 dual meet competitions.
 
RECORDS: Florida (4-1, 2-1 SEC); Alabama (3-3, 2-2 SEC).
 
THE SERIES: Alabama leads the series 73-40-2.
 
HEAR FROM THE GATORS:
On Gators' performance tonight:
"A solid night was not quite enough. It's our first SEC road meet of the season and I thought this team did a phenomenal job on the road. We started off with solid routines on bars. We stuck our dismounts, which is something we have been a little wishy-washing with over the past few meets. But really started off on a great note and finished on a really solid note on beam as well. The team fought for every tenth, every landing.
 
"This was a great experience – in front of a big crowd on the road, tight meet all the way through – and the team will gain from this experience." – Florida Head Coach Jenny Rowland
 
National Rank:
Florida – Florida is No. 3 in the fourth Road to Nationals poll.
UA – The Tide are No. 6 in the Road to National poll.
 
UP NEXT:
SEC dual meet action continues Feb. 10 as the Gators face the other league team to win a NCAA Championship – No. 9. Georgia. Meet time is set for 6:45 p.m. ET in the Exactech Arena at the Stephen C. O'Connell Center.
 
Here's what is planned for Friday:
Giveaway – 1,500 Gators Gymnastics sunglasses & case
Alumni Night – Welcome back Gators Gymnastics Alumni! Be there to see all your favorite Gator Greats back together in the O'Dome.
Social Contest – Post a photo, video, or custom GIF from the meet on Instagram or Twitter with #GoGatorsGym for the chance to win Beats Solo 3 Wireless headphones.
Dazzlers Performance – The Dazzlers will be performing on the floor pre-meet.
Dance Marathon Check-In – DM Participants can check in at the meet to earn spirit points.
Rowdy Reptile Check-In – Students can check in at the meet via the Rowdy Reptile app from 6-7PM to earn 3 points towards great prizes! Visit the app store or Google Play to download the free app.
 
Friday's meet is also Florida's third of six consecutive dual meet appearances on the SEC Network. The announce team for the meet consists of Kathy Johnson Clarke, Laura Rutledge and Taylor Davis.
 
Visit the Gators ticket site for complete information about getting tickets for Friday's meet.
 

	Single Meet
Reserved Adult Tickets:	$8
Reserved Youth (12 & under)	$8
General Admission Adult	$5
General Admission Youth (12 & under)	Free
UF Students w/ Gator1 ID	Free

 

No. 3 Florida at No. 6 Alabama Final Team Totals
Feb. 3, 2017 – Coleman Coliseum (14,423)
Team	Vault	Bars	Beam	Floor	Total
Alabama	49.375	49.400	49.425	49.625	197.825
Florida	49.350	49.325	49.300	49.450	197.425

 

	Florida Gators Gymnastics Florida Gators		@GatorsGym @FloridaGators
			@JennyRowlandUF (Jenny Rowland)