No. 21 Razorbacks’ gymnastics team heads to Auburn

FAYETTEVILLE — The University of Arkansas gymnastics teams will enter a rowdy environment tonight not conducive to breaking out of a stretch of inconsistency.

The No. 21 Razorbacks will travel to face No. 11 Auburn at Auburn Arena tonight in the final home meet of the season for the Tigers.

Arkansas (1-7, 0-4) has won three consecutive regular season meets against Auburn, but the Razorbacks have struggled with injuries and uneven performances that have produced just one score of 196-plus.

“That’s part of the learning process,” Arkansas Coach Mark Cook said of last week’s score of 195.8, which was not good enough to beat No. 8 Alabama.

“We’re having a missed routine here and a missed routine there and we can’t afford to do that. … Our potential is high, but we’re not performing it well.”

The Razorbacks are expected to have all-arounder Sarah Shaffer back after the sophomore missed last week’s meet with a mild concussion.

The Razorbacks blitzed Auburn last season with a 196.75 for a winning margin of 1.875 points, the largest in the series.

Auburn (5-1, 4-1) is 3-0 at home and had sellouts in their last two meets at Auburn Arena in upsets of No. 4 LSU and No. 6 Georgia.

“Arkansas is a thorn in Auburn’s side for the last five or six years, and they’re definitely coming in to get their act together,” Auburn Coach Jeff Graba said. “I think they’re a little under-ranked right now. I think we are as well.”

Arkansas sophomore Sophia Carter posted a 9.9 on the floor exercise last week to post her fifth title in six meets on that event this season. Freshman Kennedy Hambrick posted her first all-around title last week with a 39.175 versus Alabama.

Arkansas senior Sydney McGlone has scored no lower than 9.8 on the vault this season and has a 9.9 on at least one event in three consecutive meets.