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the UCLA Bruins and Cal-State Fullerton Titans. See you Friday Night back at Coleman Coliseum for the GymTide versus Penn State. Goodnight Bama Nation!

The Tide will hopefully see the return of Terin Humphrey on the uneven bars, a routine we obviously will need in the post-season for it's huge scoring potential. Bama will still need to work on the mental aspects that are so important when it comes to competing at the top level on each event and not losing your momentum or giving it away after one rough routine. Hopefully they will take those lessons away from this road swing and come back strong in the final two weeks of the regular season.

On a positive note, Ashley O'Neal came back strong on balance beam with her exhibition routine that may see her return to the regular line-up by next week. She was also strong on floor with her energy and dynamic tumbling, which seemed to help fuel the rest of the team to higher performances.

Kassi Price also continued to showcase her elite skills with determination and the type of aggression we need all the team to demonstrate - 9.90 on bars, 9.80 on vault, 9.90 on floor and 9.775 on beam.

Brittany Magee also came through today on three events with much better performances - 9.85 on beam, 9.825 on floor and 9.875 on the vault - we just need to see this every week from her.

Congrats also to Morgan Dennis, who really poured it on tonight on beam, vault and floor exercise - her bars score was a little lower than we saw it but overall she was 2nd in the all around only to Olympian Tasha Schwikert, so hats off to her for a gutsy performance.

Some of the gals were sick over the weekend and really warriored up, including Kayla Hoffman, and Ricki apparently has been under the weather as well - she is usually very confident and stable on beam but this afternoon it just was not there on this event or bars.

Hopefully she will have a better practice week and we'll see her perform like she is capable this next weekend against the Nittany Lions.

Our best wishes and prayers to UCLA Redshirt Freshman Brittani McCullough, who suffered an apparent achilles tear on floor this afternoon. Such a talented gymnast.

3rd Jordan Schwikert
2nd Morgan Dennis (49.475)
1st Tasha Schwikert

3rd - Kassi Price and Sam Cortez
2nd - Morgan Dennis
1st - Tasha Schwikert

3rd Anna Li (UCLA) and Casey Overton (Alabama)
2nd Tasha Schwikert
1st Casey Jo Magee

3rd - Casey Jo Magee (Arkansas) and Brittani McCullough (UCLA)
2nd - Tasha Schwikert
1st - Kassi Price

2nd Tasha Schwikert and Morgan Dennis
1st Kayla Hoffman! (should have been a 10, it was superb)

they refused to let one fall on the floor get in their way. That's team work. Meanwhile, UCLA's Tasha Schwikert finishes with a terrific floor set after Brittani McCullough had a very nasty fall on the opening tumbling pass - folks, it looks very serious - they had to take her off in the arms of two trainers - Coach Val just shook her head after comforting Brittani - she is definitely hoping they can just get through the rest of the season without any more scary injuries like this on floor - Kristina Comforte several weeks ago, Anna Li as well - both have come back but Brittani's looked a little more serious.

nice double layout dismount - folks, that just the way it's been out here - Bama is like a firecracker shooting off - hot one moment, looking invincible and ready to win this meet after a rough start and then finishes absolutely flat. Nothing else we can say.

double layout - tiny hop on the landing - Score: 9.900 Team score on bars: 48.400 - lowest in over two years and the Tide has to settle for another sub 196 score on the road that was looking like was heading to a possible 196.600 or higher. Got to minimize those errors and be aggressive throughout.

toe shoot straddle to the high bar - double layout to finish - step forward and out - Score: 9.825

the double tuck landing out of a full pirouette. Score: 9.800

up and jars the landing of the tuck full in - she is doubting herself big time today, on beam and now again on bars - we cannot have that - you must fight for every tenth! Better days ahead hopefully for her. Score: 9.100

to prepare for the Comaneci - has to get back on and then dismounts with a step - Score: 9.075 Ricki Lebegern will need to pump the energy back up - judges are scoring tight on this event - Morgan had a terrific routine and only score a 9.775.

floats the pike Jaeger and nails the dismount of the double front! Way to go sophomore! Score: 9.775 - okay!

147.525 to UCLA's 147.250 and Arkansas at 147.250 as well. But the Hogs and Bruins are on the two ending events that they could score high on as well - vault and floor. So Bama must be just as aggressive on this final event and stick those landings like they did on floor and vault. Let's roll Bama!

Schwikert came back with a 9.90 and Anna Li was the anchor with a 9.875. Arkansas is going to pull this meet out in first place if they can avoid counting a fall. They've had one on floor and will throw that one out with Peacock finishing strong. She always sells her routine so well - not the most difficult tumbling but great showmanship.

Let's keep the pressure on! Bama's running score is 147.525

Score: 9.975 - one judge was not going to relinquish that 10 like the other one but we will take it - Kayla knows it was perfect and so do the Tide fans here!

Wow, the gals are excited now, especially Jennifer Iovino, who does a little two step dance in front of us as celebration - Score: 9.925

as well - Score: 9.800

pops up and in place - really nice form enroute and well-centered on landing. Score: 9.875

Y 1/1! Score: 9.900!

what we're talking about sports fans! Score: 9.875

to get that score up even more.

comfortably ahead of Cal-State Fullerton (97.35)

Bama: 97.975, Arkansas at 98.050 and UCLA at 98.600

boogey time - second pass of the tuck full in - form was a little loose but amazing amplitude again and right in line with the corner - will close with a tuck through to a double tuck - great landing again and final salute on time to the judge to her right. Whoosh! Way to come back Bama! Score: 9.950!

opens with a 2 1/2 to punch tuck - perfect landing - form a little bent in the air - perfect landing of the double tuck for her second pass - just a warrior out there! - she has her game face on for sure - finishes with a double pike - perfect landing again, just slightly chest down but she whips up into position for her final salute - Score: 9.900!

comes right back with a 2 1/2 to punch front layout - floats forward and into her dance sequence - selling it well - finishes with a double pike - good job! Score: 9.850

step back to control the landing - huge smile for the judge on her right - comes right back with a front-front full to front layout - really selling the dance and music - split full to wolf full combo - closes with a double tuck - finishes strong! Way to go O! We needed that to keep the momentum going - Bama seems to be settling down nicely - Score: 9.825

comes right back with a double pike - perfect landing - on a dime senior! Let's finish strong - front-whip full to whip full twist - landed chest high - little scoot into the corner -well within bounds - Score: 9.850

Brittany Magee starts the floor for Bama - opens with a double pike - perfect landing! Cat leap double - back head roll to split and stand - second pass of the front-front full twist to front tuck - nice - switch split to split full combo - finishes with a double tuck - lands it well - yes!!! Score: 9.825

Everybody needs to stay in bounds and focus!!!

who leads with a 49.425 on vault to open the first rotation. Cal-State Fullerton is finishing up on floor; they had two low scores but no falls - rest of their scores are in the 9.7 range. They are right behind Bama at 48.575

hits the flight and leap series and the punch front tuck - lands the dismount of the running front full twist with a small hop forward and a huge smile. Score: 9.775

front aerial to beat jump - beautiful form and amplitude, stretch - bhs to layout step-out - gorgeous! switch leap to straddle - nice - full turn - pick it up - switch leap side straddle - nice - dismounts with a round off to double tuck - hop in place on landing - very nice amplitude - Score: 9.825 Team Score: 48.600

bhs to layout step-out - switch leap to wolf - nice - full turn - nice - wolf front aerial - awesome - landed it chest high and she dismounts with a double pike, legs split a bit, one step on the landing. Score: 9.775

one arm bhs to layout stepout - stays on - slight shoulder shift - beautiful front aerial - switch leap to pike jump to tuck full - right on - beautiful gainer back layout step-out - full turn - dismounts with a round off to 1 1/2, small hop forward. Nice recovery - Score: 9.850

switch leap to straddle - side straddle leap - nice - side Somi - slight arm wave - dismounts with a double twist - nice landing - hop in place. Score: 9.275

backwards head mount onto the beam - full turn - front walkover- tentative - side aerial is off - she has to hop off - nice split full jump and a front aerial later in the routine - switch leap to wolf full to beat jump - one arm bhs - dismounts with a running front full and sticks the landing - not sure what is up with her this weekend - she is usually so steady - Score: 9.250

front aerial - nice - switch leap to straddle jump - bhs to layout stepout - nice - full turn - sheep jump - switch side straddle jump - nice - bhs to full twist - sticks the landing! Score: 9.875

unless you have a warrior's heart - let's go Bama! You can do it - fans are behind you 100%!

The Tide is looking tentative on their touches, especially Amanda - we need to warrior up Bama!

Alabama is wearing their deep burgundy leos with white and silver waves cresting on the front and back areas - lots of sequins outlining the waves.

Arkansas is wearing a black leo with cut-out sleeves that look almost like spider webbing - red piping on the collar and upper capped shoulder areas - red hog emblem on the back bodice cross-stripe.

Cal-State Fullerton is wearing bright blue and orange, similar to Florida's team colors.

UCLA is wearing navy blue with two bands of silver geometric sequins parallel to each other on the front bodice.

Cal-State and then UCLA

Coach Kondos-Field is giving the seniors single yellow roses - Kaitlin White is the senior here for the Tide, as Terin is rehabbing back in Tuscaloosa. UCLA seniors are Tasha Schwikert, Jordan Schwikert and Natalie Padilla.

Since this is a quad meet we will just focus on the Crimson Tide - and they could certainly use some focusing this afternoon to make up for their rather lackluster performance this past Friday Night that resulted in a third place showing against Stanford and Nebraska, two teams that they are currently ranked above. Bottom line, it's time for this team to start showing the coaches that they are heeding their advice about being aggressive by attacking every event with absolute determination and confidence. Instead, what we've been seeing on the road lately is a rather distracted air about the GymTide at crucial points when leadership was desperately needed - so tonight, the key to victory is simple - we need to see a combination of focus, spark and aggressive desire from the entire team. Bama needs to fight through any confused scoring results or possible fluke performances and show their coaches and fans that they are resilient and able to finish the job. Let's hope we see the GymTide perform today like we know they are capable - and demonstrate their Crimson Pride in the process. RTR!

Bama is using all of their remaining seconds on the bars, under one minute now.

Concentration looks good on this final event but it seems the team is favoring the bars by rotating a little slower and more deliberately than we are used to seeing them do - pirouetting needs to be quicker - nice dismount from Cassie Martin just then - one more rep from Kayla Hoffman - looks good!

Casey, Ricki, Kassi, Morgan, Kayla, Brittany, Kaitlin, Alyssa

Kassi Price just threw a Hristakieva - nice power and push but legs were separated and body rubber-banded on twisting - nice Y 1/1 efforts just then from Kayla and Casey -
Better rotation from Kaitlin just then on vault with the Y 1/1 - needs to get more amplitude which comes from stronger push off the table with her arms - Brittany seems to like this vault table - strong efforts so far -

to fire up the team -

UCLA is on beam, Cal-State on bars and Arkansas on floor in the third warm-up. Fans are starting to trickle in - we see several Bama fans with their tee-shirts directly across from us - this is a general admission, you can sit anywhere in Pauley Pavilion for gym meets.

2 1/2 to punch layout and a double pike to end.

their feet on this floor mat - Kayla is now warming up on floor - has thrown her pike full in and the double pike without any trouble but the 2 1/2 to punch front layout is giving her a little trouble in the corner -

Good height on the triple twist from Ricki - Ashley O is working in the 7th position today -

Arkansas to bars.

Bama is warming up Morgan, Brittany, Kaitlin, Kassi, Kayla, Casey, Ricki and Ashley O on this event. Nice double pike from Kayla - Casey's music starts, so she will likely open for the Tide today on this event. Brittany Magee's music is next - Ricki's follows - Alyssa Chapman is also warming up on floor

heavily taped - punch tuck looks good - working the front full twist today as a dismount -

Magee is struggling a bit with her flight series and redoes it - nice switch leap to pike jump to tuck full jump - gainer back layout stepout is solid too

Ricki throws a nice side Somi and Casey a terrific front aerial - working again to stick that dismount, every step counts.

Kassi Price is also working extra on the high bar to time her Hindorff release just right.

while Cassie Martin throws the Comaneci - toe-off 1/2 twist (tuck position).

Very nice double layout dismount from Kayla Hoffman off bars just then.

while Arkansas shares the beam as well and floor mat with UCLA.

Morgan is struggling a bit with the high bar - Kayla is looking good, as is Cassie.

Nice dismount of the tuck full in from Ricki just then on bars. Morgan comes right back and nails her double front dismount, so looks like she is adjusting to the bars here in Pauley.

on the uneven bars. Another great test for the GymTide. The vault is right in front of us and to our left so we should have much better view and angles on how the gymnasts perform compared to Friday Night's bird's nest view from the upper rafters. The floor is right smack in front of us, the uneven bars to our left with a very nice perspective for handstands and landings and the balance beam is to our far right.

The GymTide will be competing against UCLA, Arkansas and Cal-State Fullerton today and we are watching the girls warm-up.

Coaches noted that freshman Kayla Hoffman was sick yesterday and may be limited this afternoon on certain events. The good news is that she was feeling better this morning and ate a hearty breakfast, so hopefully she will be ready to roll in 1 1/2 hours. She is warming up with the rest of the team.