Alabama gymanstics did its job on Friday.
Needing a second place finish to continue its postseason, the Crimson Tide comfortably found second by a considerable margin. Cal took first place with a 197.550 while the Crimson Tide fell in second with a 197.275. UNC bested Iowa for third but both were in the 196s.
The Crimson Tide was led by all-around performances with Gabby Gladieux and Lilly Hudson tying for third with a score of 39.4. The Crimson Tide had three score in the 9.9s led by Chloe LaCoursiere and Ryan Fuller on the bars and Corinne Bunagan on the vault, ahead of a big floor routine.
Alabama and Cal advance to Sunday's portion which starts at 5 p.m. CT, the other two teams will be determined later on Friday.
Alabama ends meet on a high note
Ending on their best event might've been what the Crimson Tide's doctors ordered. Rachel Rybicki got it started with a 9.875 before Shania Adams and Jamison Sears scored in the 9.9s. Hudson and Galdieux ended the meet on an even higher note, scoring back-to-back 9.95s to give Alabama a 49.6, its second best floor score on the year.
Alabama needed a big floor routine and it delivered, giving the Crimson Tide some much needed momentum heading into Sunday.
Alabama consistently in the 9.85 range
Alabama scored 9.9 three times through three rotations, but never could get higher than that. The good news is that the floor was around 9.85, as they only scored in the 9.7s three times during the meet and had one 9.2
The consistency was good enough to advance but they will need to find the 9.9 more outside the floor on Sunday to keep competing.
Alabama gets off to slow start on vault
Vault has been the Crimson Tide's struggle all year, with the lowest high score of all the appartus. They scored a 49.150, their third lowest score of the season, and without Corinne Bunagan's 9.9, it would've been the worse score of the season at 49.000. Alabama still found itself in second place but trailed Cal by a considerable margin.
Yes it was Alabama's weakest event but the Crimson Tide didn't get the NCAA Tournament off on the right foot. ...
