Jan. 26, 2007

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -

The No. 10 Auburn Tigers fell to No. 5 Alabama, 197.475-195.900 in front of a sold out crowd of 15,075 at Coleman Coliseum in Tuscaloosa.  Alabama's score was its highest in nearly three years, and was the highest by any team so far this season.  The meet was Alabama's "Power of Pink" to benefit the DCH Cancer Awareness Fund.

"For everything that happened tonight, I was proud of how we competed and performed," head coach Jeff Thompson said.  "We need to get better and we will, but I was totally impressed with Alabama.  They have a great team."

Sophomore A.J. Mills took home the individual beam title with her score of 9.900.  Sophomore Lindsey Puckett took third on vault with a 9.900, while junior Julie Dwyer took fourth in the all-around with a 39.450.

The Tigers opened the dual meet on bars and scored a 48.975, their second highest score of the year.  Leading the way for the Tigers was Dwyer, who finished with a 9.875.  Lindsey Puckett performed a solid routine, recording a 9.825, while Alicia Lenkiewicz, who led off for AU, earned a season-high 9.800.  Kayla Gies posted a 9.775, and A.J. Mills and Krissy Voss each scored 9.700's.

On the second rotation, trailing 49.325-48.975, AU scored a season high with a 49.150 on vault.  Auburn was led by Puckett, who finished third with a season high of 9.900.  Dwyer scored a 9.850, while Mills recorded a 9.825.  Voss reeled in a 9.800, which tied a season high, and Gies posted a 9.775.  Shanna Somero's score of 9.725 totaled a season high.

Trailing 98.850-98.125, the Tigers headed into the third rotation where they posted a 48.600 on floor, their second best score of the season.  Dwyer led the way with a 9.875, followed by Carmen Nelms' 9.775.  Claire Seiffert posted a 9.700, with Mills registering a 9.650 and Puckett a 9.600.

Auburn headed into the final rotation, down 147.950-146.725.  Mills posted the high score for AU with a 9.900.  Dwyer came away with a 9.850, followed by Voss' season high score of 9.825.  Gies and Somero each posted 9.800's.  The score for Gies tied a season high, while Somero's score marked a season high.

The Tigers will remain on the road as they travel to Gainesville to take on No. 1 Florida on Friday, Feb. 2 at 6 p.m. CT.