LITTLE ROCK, Ark. - The University of Alabama Gymnastics team put together a great 197.000 score here at the Southeastern Conference Championships, led by an outstanding 39.5 all-around performance by freshman Morgan Dennis.

In a conference where the nation's top four teams reside, that score was good for third place behind No. 1 ranked Florida 's 197.325 and No. 2 Georgia's 197.175. The Gators crown marks the first time since 1989 that a team besides Alabama or the Dogs has won the SEC title.

"I thought we preformed exceptionally well tonight," Alabama head coach Sarah Patterson said. "We were a good team but we weren't perfect, and when you compete against the top two teams in the country you have to be perfect to win."

LSU, which is ranked fourth in the nation, finished fourth here tonight with a 196.250, followed by Arkansas , 194.550, Auburn , 194.475 and Kentucky , 194.200.

"I think we have room for improvement but I also feel we have come miles from our first two meetings with these ( Florida and Georgia ) teams and on any given night .325 is a margin that we can close," Patterson said. "While disappointed not to win our sixth conference championship, our focus now turns to the NCAA Regional and qualifying for our 25th consecutive NCAA Championship. We want to win our 22nd regional title and I feel that our ladies now know that even as young as we are, we can contend for the national championship."

Freshman Ricki Lebegern won the balance beam with a 9.925. It was Alabama 's 20th individual SEC title over the past six years and its first balance beam win since Jeana Rice in 2003. Dennis's all-around total, just off her career best, put her fifth overall while Lebegern's 39.425 put her seventh. Freshman Ricki Lebegern, who scored a 39.425 in the all-around, won the balance beam with a 9.925, while junior Terin Humphrey scored a 39.300 in the all-around.

"I thought Morgan was exceptional tonight," Patterson said. "She has performed exceedingly well over the last half of the season and shows no signs of letting up. And to see a young lady like Ricki, who didn't think she could compete on a team like Alabama , who I had to talk into coming to Tuscaloosa , do as well as she has this season and be a rock on the beam for us is very gratifying. Performances like those are why Alabama 's future is very bright indeed."

Alabama finished the night off on the balance beam where they put together a 49.325 led by Lebegern's winning 9.925 and freshman Casey Overton's fourth place 9.875 score. Sophomore Ashley O'Neal led the Tide off with a 9.825 and Dennis and Humphrey both scored 9.85s.

Alabama posted a 49.275 on the floor exercise to get things started, led by Dennis' second place 9.925 and a sixth place 9.875 from Price. Lebegern posted a 9.85 while senior Erin Rightley started the Tide off with a 9.825 followed by a 9.8 from junior Kaitlin White in the second spot.

On the vault, Dennis again led the Tide, coming away with a 9.9, which tied her for fourth overall, in the anchor spot pushing the team to a 49.25. White and Lebegern both scored 9.85s while Humphrey and Price went 9.825.

Humphrey scored a 9.875, which also tied her for fifth, in the anchor spot on the uneven bars to lead Alabama to 49.150. Sophomore Cassie Martin scored a 9.85 while Dennis posted a 9.825. White led the Tide off with a 9.8 which Lebegern matched in the second spot.

The meet will be televised on a tape delayed basis on Fox Sports South Saturday, April 7 at 6 p.m. CT.