GREAT moves by Fil-American Aleah Finnegan in the floor exercise at the final rotation helped fuel the no. 2 Louisiana State University Tigers to a closely-fought 198.050-197.675 verdict over top-ranked Oklahoma on Friday night inside the Pete Maravich Assembly Center.
Competing in front of a crowd of 13,386, the Tigers went on to improve their record to second spot overall with a win-loss card of 7-2 and a 4-1 Southeastern Conference slate in the NCAA Division 1 gymnastics’ meet at Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
It was LSU’s first win over a top-ranked opponent, ever since its victory over Florida at the 2021 SEC Championships.
In the last rotation, Finnegan executed a big double Arabian to stag jump with perfection, with switch (ring) leap to tour jete ½ (180-degree half turn) following next.
Finnegan, who has national ranking of no. 16 in the vault, ended her routine with a 2.5 somersault and an out-of-bounds punch front (forward landing), giving Finnegan an overall 9.800 score.
The Tigers’ win was fuelled by season-high scores in the vault (49.600) and in the floor (49.700).
Individually, the Tigers drew strength from freshman Kailin Chio, who claimed her third consecutive all-around title with a 39.725.
LSU also won two event crowns, with graduate student Sierra Ballard snaring home the first beam title of her collegiate career with a 9.95.
Three Tigers took a share of the floor title with a 9.95 – from Senior Haleigh Bryant, sophomore Amari Drayton and Chio as they dealt the Sooners their first loss of the 2025 season.
“Well, that was certainly the outcome that everybody hoped for around here. It’s a great night for us,” said head coach Jay Clark.
Senior KJ Johnson opened the night in the vault with a 9.875, before senior Finnegan followed up with her own 9.875 in second spot.