Baton Rouge – The Centenary gymnastics team went toe to toe against fifth-ranked LSU on Friday evening at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center in front of over 9,000 fans, falling 196.950-185.650 in a non-conference dual meet televised live on the SEC Network.
Centenary, beginning its season a week earlier than expected, filled in for West Virginia on Friday after the Mountaineers were unable to compete due to COVID. The Ladies recorded a 47.350 on vault, their best score of the night followed by a 46.475 on beam, a 46.050 on bars, and a 45.775 on floor.
Senior All-American Kendall Sanders (Spring Branch, Texas) and freshman Emma Lavelle (Mandeville, La.) finished second and third in the all-around behind LSU's Alyona Shchennikova. Sanders earned a 37.750 and Lavelle, making her collegiate debut, finished with a 36.950. Shchennikova recorded a 39.30.
Sanders' best score was a career-high tying 9.800 on vault followed by a 9.65 on beam, a 9.35 on bars, and an 8.950 on floor. Lavelle's top score was a 9.475 on beam. She scored a 9.425 on vault, a 9.05 on floor, and an even 9.00 on bars.
Junior Kendall Huff (Riviera, Texas) scored a 9.70 on vault and fellow junior Leilani Johnson (Wichita, Kan.) earned a 9.525. Lavelle scored a 9.425 and junior Lacey Wedge (Belle Chasse, La.) received an 8.90.
Junior All-American Taylor Ann Wilson (Memphis, Tenn.) was the Ladies' top finisher on bars (9.70) followed by Sanders' 9.35 and a 9.025 from freshman Chlore Armentor (Harvey, La.) in her Centenary debut. Lavelle scored an even 9.00, junior Rose Deshler (Hastings, Minn.) earned a new career-high 8.975 and Huff scored an 8.825.
Sanders was the Ladies' top performer on beam (9.650) followed by freshman Carissa Martinez (Albuquerque, N.M.) with a 9.60 in her collegiate debut. Deshler was next with a 9.55 and Lavelle with a 9.475. Sophomore Rylie Molina (Moss Bluff, La.) scored a 9.10 and senior All-American Xian Baumgartner (Albuquerque, N.M.) finished with an 8.75.
Huff just missed her career-high score of 9.55 on floor as she earned a 9.525 on Friday to lead the Ladies in the event. Wedge earned a career-high 9.275, and Lavelle earned a score of 9.050. Martinez received an 8.975, Sanders an 8.95, and Baumgartner earned an 8.85.
LSU finished with a 49.50 on bars for its best score in any event on the evening, followed by a 49.40 on vault, a 49.075 on beam, and a 48.975 on floor.
Centenary next travels to Cape Girardeau, Mo. on Friday, Jan. 14 to face Midwest Independent Conference foe SEMO in a dual meet set for 6:30 p.m. The Ladies will make their home debut on Sunday, Jan. 23 versus Air Force in a dual meet set for 1 p.m. in the Gold Dome.
See the Ladies' complete season schedule here: https://www.gocentenary.com/sports/gymnastics/2021-22/schedule
Live stats and live video are available for all home meets.
Admission is FREE to all Centenary home athletic contests but be advised of current COVID-19 protocols for fans. Updated COVID-19 information is now available via www.GoCentenary.com.
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