Suni Lee made history Friday night in Tuscaloosa, even if sixth-ranked Auburn didn’t come out on top against rival 11th-ranked Alabama.
Lee shot two perfect 10s, setting the program career record for 10 in the process, and took the all-around title at Coleman Coliseum, but the Tigers fell to the Tide, 197.850–197.700, in a head-to-head dual meet. Lee recorded perfect scores on bars and beam, booking the meet with a pair of 10’s as she finished with an overall score of 39.825.
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This marked the third time this season that Olympic all-around gold medalist Lee has taken home the individual all-around title for Auburn. He previously claimed the all-around in the Tigers’ season-opening performance at the Super 16 Challenge in Las Vegas, as well as two weeks prior against Arkansas.
Friday’s all-around score tied Lee’s career-best mark, which he had previously established in the previous season’s meeting against LSU.
Equaling his career-high all-around score, Lee recorded the seventh and eighth perfect 10s of his career — and the second and third of his second season — moving him into first place in Auburn history. All eight of Lee’s 10 times and has come on beam. She posted a perfect score on bars twice last year as a freshman, recording 10’s at the LSU and SEC championship meets. She scored 10 on beam three times last season: against Kentucky, against Florida and in the NCAA regionals.
This season, Lee started the year with a bang, posting a perfect 10 on beam in Auburn’s season-opener in Las Vegas. She came close to a few others in the weeks that followed — and then she broke against the tide again on Friday. With her two 10s, Lee scored a 9.9 on vault and a 9.925 on floor.
Where Lee’s perfect 10 and all-around title set up a strong road score for Auburn, Alabama came back with a head-to-head rivalry win after being left out on the final rotation after posting a 49.700 team floor. This erased a slim Auburn advantage through the first three turns and gave Alabama the lead.
Tide’s other top performances against Tide were 9.9 on bars and 9.95 on beam from Cassie Stevens, 9.9 on beam from Aria Brusch, 9.925 on floor from Darian Goborn and 9.9 on floor from Sophia Groth.
Tom Green is the Auburn beat reporter for Alabama Media Group. follow him on twitter @Tomas_Verde.
