COLUMBIA, Mo. – After a shaky start, the No. 4 Alabama gymnastics team roared back to earn a 197.225-195.500 win at No. 8 Missouri Friday night in the Hearnes Center.

Following an uncharacteristically wobbly start on the uneven bars, Alabama bounced back with a strong showing on vault and then, following a floor exercise rotation filled with new faces, the Crimson Tide caught fire on the balance beam.

Led off by a season-best 9.900 from senior Keely McNeer, freshman Wynter Childers followed with a 9.925, which led to freshman Maddie Desch’s 9.875. Senior Aja Sims posted a 9.95 to tie her career best score on beam in the fourth spot while junior Nickie Guerrero closed out the rotation and the meet with a career-best tying 9.95 of her own. The Tide’s 49.600 on the balance beam tied the fourth-highest total in school history.

Starting on the uneven bars, Alabama scored a 49.150 behind a 9.875 from senior Katie Bailey and a 9.85 from freshman Shea Mahoney in her competitive debut in the Tide’s lineup. On the vault, The Tide posted a season-best 49.375, led by a career-best 9.95 from Guerrero. McNeer led the Tide off with a 9.85, a score matched by freshman Wynter Childers, in her UA vault debut, as well as sophomore Abby Armbrecht. Bailey finished out the rotation with a 9.875.

On the floor exercise, Alabama posted a 49.100 led by junior Kiana Winston’s second floor exercise score of 9.95 in as many meets. Sims finished off the Tide’s floor exercise rotation with a 9.9.

On the road again next week, Alabama's next home meet is Feb. 3 against Florida for the Tide's annual Power of Pink meet.

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