Freshman Allyson Sandusky watched with the rest of the 3,251 in attendance Friday night as LSU’s first two gymnasts did the wrong kind of tumbling on the floor exercise — the kind that deducts major points.

Her response? The company line, of course.

“We try not to focus on the other team,” Sandusky said. “We just try to focus on what we’re doing and try to get our job done.”

Coach Jeff Thompson, meanwhile, had been in the situation LSU found itself in plenty of times before. There was no need to remain political about the circumstances.

“You’re kind of looking over there and seeing that you can stick a fork in them right there,” he said.

If the fork was in after LSU’s back-to-back falls, Auburn twisted it with yet another spectacular performance on their turn at the floor. No. 6 Auburn rode season highs on three of four events to take down No. 10 LSU, 196.575-195.300, at Beard-Eaves-Memorial Coliseum.

“I think they all kind of knew going into the last event that we had it,” Thompson said. “We just had to put it on cruise control and let it happen.”

For a team that’s revved it up all year on the floor, that’s a tough request. But Auburn (3-2, 1-2 SEC) maintained its meet-long lead and sustained its season-long streak of not counting a fall with a 49.300 – more than a point higher than LSU’s 48.225.

Lindsey Puckett and Rachel Inniss each picked up 9.90s, while A.J. Mills and Claire Seiffert tacked on 9.85s to pace the Tigers to their season-best score in an event that’s been their strongest all season.

“It’s like an adrenaline rush,” said Sandusky, who did not participate in the floor. “I can’t stop moving when I cheer for them.”

Sandusky did her part in the first two events, picking up season highs in both the vault (9.875) and uneven bars (9.825).

“That’s the vault that we want to see every day,” Thompson said. “As our freshmen learn from the upperclassmen, they see Lindsey and A.J. and Claire go out there and hit their routines, they’re going to think it’s expected.”

Auburn outscored LSU (6-2, 1-2) in each event Friday, tallying season highs in every one but the beam.

Puckett matched a team record on the vault with a 9.95 to pace Auburn’s 49.200. LSU countered with a 49.025 on the uneven bars to open the meet.

Mills led the Tigers with a 9.85 on the bars, as Auburn was able to overcome a fall from junior Carmen Nelms on its way to a 49.150. The Tigers did the same on the beam when Inniss, third out of six in the rotation, fell for the first time all season.

“We’ve just been very consistent,” Thompson said. “When we have a little mistake, the next kid in the lineup grabs a hold of that rope and holds on.

“We haven’t had to count a fall yet. I shouldn’t even say yet. We don’t count falls.”

| 737-2561