No. 7 Mizzou records season-best team score in narrow loss to No. 2 LSU
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
The No. 7 Mizzou gymnastics team made a major run at an upset over No. 2 LSU, on Friday night, but fell just short against the bayou Tigers, 197.675-197.500.
That finished marked the best team-score of the season, so far, for Mizzou.
The margin for error was razor thin for each squad, all night long, as neither Tiger team led by more than 0.325 of a point through each rotation at Mizzou Arena.
The hometown Tigers got off to a strong start, scoring a 49.275 on the vault. That opening rotation was highlighted by a near-perfect 9.950 from sophomore Railey Jackson, which shattered her prior career-best on that apparatus. She ended up sharing the event title with a couple of LSU gymnasts.
Head coach Shannon Welker and his team moved on to the uneven bars, next. Mizzou ended up with 49.350 on the second rotation of their night, as the Tigers ended with two standout performances. Junior Hannah Horton led the squad with a career-best tying score of 9.950, while true freshman Kimarra Echols rounded out the rotation with a 9.925. That was the freshman's third time going for a 9.925 or better on the bars, this season.
Heading into the third rotation, No. 7 MU and No. 2 LSU were separated by just 0.175 points.
Mizzou found a couple of 9.9+ performances on the balance beam, on Friday night. Addison Lawrence continued her standout start to the 2026 season by tying her career-best with a 9.950. She was joined in the 9.9 club by her teammate Lauren Macpherson. In total, Mizzou scored its best team score the night up to that point with a 49.400.
MU headed to its bread and butter for the final rotation, with the door still slightly open for an upset against No. 2 LSU.
The fab floor lived up to its name for Coach Welker, as the door remained for an upset until the very last gymnasts took the mats. The Tigers scored four 9.9s on the event that they rank No. 2 in the nation on. That effort was led by Kennedy Griffin and Horton, who both tied scored 9.925s.
Mizzou had an opening in that final rotation, as LSU had some bumps on the beam. It came down to the bayou Tigers' final gymnast, who needed to score a 9.9 on slam the door shut on Mizzou and Kailin Chio managed to get the job done, ending up with a 9.975 in the final performance of the night for LSU.
Chio ended up as the all-around champion in Columbia.
The Tigers ended up with two event champions, as Railey Jackson took the title on the vault and Horton took the crown on the uneven bars.
Up next - Mizzou will round out it tour of Top-3 competition with a home meet against No. 3 Florida. The Tigers and the Gators will go head-to-head on Friday, Feb. 6 at 8 p.m.
