Auburn dropped its final SEC meet of the season Saturday afternoon 197.675-196.450 against Kentucky. Although the Tigers lost, senior Cassie Stevens won the all-around competition.
"I thought the team fought really hard," said head coach Jeff Graba. "I was happy with the mentality. I felt like we came in and tried to get some things accomplished, and we were in it all the way until the end."
The Tigers got off to a good start on Saturday — scoring a 49.2. Starting in the anchor position, fifth-year senior Derrian Gobourne kicked things off by scoring a 9.2. Following her, Gabby McLaughlin scored a career-high 9.875. Stevens scored a 9.85, senior Aria Brusch tallied a 9.825 and sophomore Sophia Groth scored a 9.8.
On her vault routine, Stevens tied her career-high 9.975 while earning a 10 from one judge. Gobourne and Olivia Hollingsworth both scored a 9.875 as Auburn recorded a 49.375 — its highest rotation score of the meet.
"It was great to see Cassie start to vault like that again," Graba said. "It's nice to see her start to hit that vault like she's capable."
Hollingsworth set a new career high on floor by scoring a 9.9 in Auburn's third rotation of the meet. Groth scored a 9.875 and McLaughlin added a career-high 9.850 as she led off the Tigers on the floor. Stevens scored a 9.825 while Brusch and Gobourne each scored a 9.8.
Stevens attained Auburn's best score for the second time on beam with a 9.850. Her beam score brought her all-around score to a 39.5 — giving her the all-around title between the Tigers and the Wildcats.
"I think it shows what a quality athlete she is and the depth of our team," Graba said. "If we get everybody on the same page like where Cassie (Stevens) is right now, we're in really good shape."
Hollingsworth started things off for Auburn on beam with an 9.825. Following her, Auburn freshman Hannah Hagle made her Auburn debut and scored a 9.8. Auburn had to count one of two falls, leading to a team score on beam of 48.575.
"Maybe it (the beam score) will leave a bad taste in our mouth, but we've got a week to work on it and get ready to go for Senior Night," Graba said.
Sophomore Suni Lee did not compete on Saturday as Graba elected to rest Lee before Auburn's final meet of the season and then the postseason.
Auburn returns to Neville Arena to conclude the regular season on Friday, March 10, to celebrate Senior Night. The meet begins at 7 p.m. CST.
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Jacob Waters is a junior majoring in journalism. From Leeds, Alabama, he started with The Plainsman in fall 2021.
Twitter: @JacobWaters_
