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36-Year Win Streak Ends
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Tide Gymnastics Falls To Tigers
Photo Credit: RollTide.com
A record that had stood for more than 36 years and 117 consecutive wins came to an end yesterday. The fourth-ranked Alabama Crimson Tide gymnastics team fell to the eighth-ranked Auburn Tigers 197.275-197.250.
Tide head coach DANA DUCKWORTH commented, "I hate to lose, I absolutely hate it. But our ladies fought all the way through the meet and never
gave up and I can't be anything but proud of how we competed. We
finished strong on the beam, in a pressure-packed situation, posting our
second highest score of the season."
This was the first win for the Auburn gymnastics team over Alabama since 1979. The series record is now 117-10. Auburn had won the first nine meetings before the Crimson Tide rolled off 117 consecutive wins.
Duckworth continued, "I had the privilege, as a gymnast, a volunteer coach, an
assistant coach and now as head coach, to be a part of one of the most
extraordinary winning streaks ever. Everyone on this
team was a part of that streak, and now that it's over, we'll use
tonight's experience as fuel for our fire. We'll continue to get better
and move forward."
Junior KATIE BAILEY and sophomore MACKENZIE BRANNAN led the Tide with all-around scores of 39.425 for Bailey and 39.400 for Brannan. Both young ladies were extraordinary.
Also posting great scores in their events were sophomores NICKIE GUERRERO, senior LAUREN BEERS, junior AJA SIMS, sophomore KIANA WINSTON and junior KEELY McNEER.
"There was a lot of fierce grace out there tonight," said Duckworth. "We have room to improve, but I am extremely proud of our fight
and our drive. Anyone that has watched this team can see its talent and
it's potential for greatness."
The Tide will will host West Virginia tomorrow, with the meet beginning at 3 p.m. CT. Big Al's Carnival will begin at 1 p.m. CT when the doors open. All tickets to Sunday's meet are just $1.
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Tide Softball Splits Opening Day
Photo Credit: RollTide.com
The fifth-ranked Alabama Crimson Tide softball team split a pair of opening day games yesterday in Orlando, Florida. Alabama opened the day with a 9-1 victory over Fordham before fall to tournament host and No. 17 UCF 8-1 later in the day.
HAYLIE McCLENEY and LEONA LAFAELE led the team with both going 3 of 6 with a pair of RBIs. DEMI TURNER banged out three hits in seven at-bats and a pair of RBIs herself. CHANDLER DARE went 2 of 5 on the day.
The Crimson Tide will play another pair of games today, opening at 11 a.m. CT with Rutgers (0-2) followed by James Madison (3-0) at 3:30 p.m. CT.
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Men's Basketball Wrestles Gators Today
Crimson Tide Head Coach Avery Johnson
Photo Credit: RollTide.com
The Alabama men's basketball team travels to Gainsville, Florida today to battle the Florida Gators in The Swamp. Game time is 4:30 p.m. CT, and is the only game of the regular season as competitors.
The Tide is high after its fourth win over a top-25 team, defeating No. 15/13 Texas A&M 63-62 this past Thursday. Bama is the SEC leader when it comes to wins over top-25 teams, and is tied for the SEC lead in RPI top-50 victories also with four.
The Gators have won 11 consecutive games over the Tide, with the last Bama win coming in March 2008 in the SEC Tournament. The last Tide team to win in Gainesville was over 20 years ago.
Today's contest will be broadcast on the SEC Network, and will also be available on the Crimson Tide Sports Network.
