No. 9 Auburn Gymnastics lost to No. 2 Oklahoma in a close 196.300-195.325 match Friday night at Beard-Eaves Coliseum.
A crowd of 5,750 fans cheered as both teams sported pink leotards to battle breast cancer during the annual "Flip for the Cure" meet.
"By no means were we the best we could be, but we did better than we did last week," said head coach Jeff Thompson. "We made our goal of hitting five out of six routines on each event, and we are moving in the right direction. We couldn't be more excited."
The Tigers were first on vault, where freshman Toi Garcia led the team with a 9.875.
Sophomores Justine Foster and Allyson Sandusky scored a 9.850 and a 9.825, respectively, giving Auburn an event score of 48.975.
"I think I did a good job; it's what I've been practicing," Sandusky said. "We did what we came here to do, and we improved from last week's score."
Oklahoma began on bars, with a high score of 9.925 from Holly Vise.
Vise entered the meet as the top bars gymnast in the nation after her 9.9 score in the first meet of the season.
All six Sooners in the bars rotation surpassed a 9.8, totaling a score of 49.225.
Auburn rotated to the bars, where Sandusky tied her career high of 9.9 from the SEC Championships.
Auburn finished with a 48.950 score in the bars event.
During the second rotation, the Sooners had four scores of at least a 9.8 on vault.
Natalie Ratcliff led with a 9.85, giving Oklahoma a 49.050 in the event.
The Tigers then moved to the beam where sophomore Kylie Shields shined with a score of 9.85.
Junior Katie Hurley scored a 9.775, giving Auburn a score of 48.600.
On the floor, Oklahoma was led by anchor Jacqueline Flanery, who hit a 9.85. Kristin Smith and Megan Ferguson each scored 9.825, making the Sooners' floor score a solid 49.000.
Auburn's floor performance was led by senior Krissy Voss with a 9.85.
Voss and Flanery tied for the event title. Shields scored a 9.825 on the floor. The duo helped Auburn reach a score of 48.800 in the event.
Auburn's two all-around competitors were Voss, scoring a 38.850, and Shields, finishing with a 38.525.
"I wasn't completely satisfied, but I was happy I stepped it up in the last two events," Shields said. "I got my head in the game, and I did pretty well."
The enthusiasm was heightened as the stands filled with pink "Flip for the Cure" T-shirts, whose sale raised more than $1,500.
The purchase of one of the $10 shirts earned free admission, as well as a donation to breast cancer.
"We were not just doing our best tonight because we love gymnastics, but for all the people who will have or have had cancer," Shields said. "It motivated us to do well."
All proceeds will be donated to the East Alabama Medical Center Foundation Breast Cancer Fund.
"Our main goal and our only goal is to reach the national championship in April," Thompson said. "We are taking small steps each week and focusing on the process of competing."
The Tigers will travel to Baton Rouge Friday to battle LSU.
Last season, then No. 6 Auburn defeated then No. 10 LSU 196.575-195.300 at home.
The LSU meet starts at 7 p.m. CT at Pete Maravich Assembly Center.
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