OU Ready for Perfect 10 Challenge in OKC

No. 1 Oklahoma vs. No. 16 Auburn (Perfect 10 Challenge)
Feb. 10 | 6:45 p.m. CT | Oklahoma City, Okla. | Cox Convention Center

Live Stats

FSSW and FCSC / FOX Sports Go

Notes

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MATCHUP AT A GLANCE
	Oklahoma	Auburn
2017 Record	7-0-0	0-6-0
2017 Ranking	No. 1	No. 16
2017 Scoring Average	197.760	195.717
2017 Team High	198.025	196.400

NOTES AND NUMBERS FOR MEET SIX

THE CHALLENGE
The No. 1 Oklahoma women's gymnastics team heads to Oklahoma City this Friday night to face No. 16 Auburn in the annual Perfect 10 Challenge, held inside the Cox Convention Center. The podium meet is set to begin at 6:45 p.m. CT. The Sooners are 5-0 in the state of Oklahoma in 2017, averaging a 197.817 in their three meets in Norman.

TOP TOTALS
Of the top scores so far this season, four of OU's rank in the top seven. OU holds the top two scores with totals of 198.025 (vs. UCLA) and 197.925 (at West Virginia), while its 197.750 vs. Alabama, the best season-opening score in program history, comes in fifth. The Sooners have the most top-10 scores of any team in 2017.

SWAGGIE MAGGIE
Oklahoma freshman Maggie Nichols has dazzled thus far on the collegiate gymnastics scene. Below are some of her accomplishments so far in 2017.

• Set OU's all-around program record with a huge 39.875 at West Virginia on Jan. 21. According to records from RoadtoNationals.com dating back to 1998, that score ties as the best ever by a freshman (April Burkholder of LSU and Ashley Kelly of Arizona State, both on March 21, 2003).

• Recorded the first 10.0 of her career on vault at WVU. The perfect score was the second by a true freshman on any event in OU history, joining teammate Brenna Dowell (bars, 2014).

• Added a 10.0 on beam in OU's quad meet on Feb. 3, becoming just the second Sooner ever to post a perfect total on two different events (Haley Scaman - three on floor, two on vault).

• Impressed in her debut against Alabama on Jan. 6, scoring a 39.725, the highest mark by a freshman in her first meet according to records from RoadtoNationals.com dating back to 1998.

WE'RE NO. 1
For the fourth straight week, the Sooners remained the No. 1 squad in the nation with an average score of 197.760. As a team, OU is ranked in first place on three of four events, including bars (49.460 average), beam (49.410) and floor (49.475) and sits second on vault (49.415).

BEST ON BEAM
The Sooners are known for their consistent success on beam, and this season, they have continued to shine. This week, OU moved back to the No. 1 ranking on the event, holding a 49.410 average. Each season since 2010, OU has finished first or second in the nation on beam, including six seasons in first. Individually, freshman Maggie Nichols is ranked No. 1 on beam with a 9.945 average following a weekend in which she scored her first perfect 10.0. Junior Stefani Catour is also ranked, coming in tied for 25th (9.850 average).

ROAD WARRIORS
In recent seasons, OU has proven itself to be as successful away from Norman as at home. The start to its 2017 road slate was no exception as it posted a big 197.925 at West Virginia, the best away total so far this season, before scoring a 197.425 at Iowa State. The Sooners finished 2016 with a scoring average of 197.576 and a record of 31-1 in true road or neutral site meets away from Lloyd Noble Center. OU has posted the highest road average in the nation in each of the last three seasons and currently holds the best in 2017.

A GLANCE AT AUBURN
The Tigers enter Friday's meet with an 0-6 record, with losses coming to Oregon State, Georgia, Kentucky, Florida, Alabama and Arkansas. Most recently, Auburn fell to Arkansas, 196.375-196.075.

Rankings (as of Feb. 6)
Team
Overall: 16th (195.717 average)
Vault: 19th (48.929)
Bars: 6th (49.121)
Beam: 22nd (48.733)
Floor: 18th (48.933)

Top Individuals
All-Around: Abby Milliet (82nd, 38.700)
Vault: MJ Rott (T-77th, 9.813)
Bars: Emma Engler (T-42nd, 9.838)
Beam: Abby Milliet (T-75th, 9.808)
Floor: MJ Rott (T-63rd, 9.837)

OU VS. AUBURN HISTORY
In the all-time series between Oklahoma and Auburn, the Sooners hold a 7-3 advantage over the Tigers. Last season, the two teams met in a quad meet at TWU, with OU finishing in first place (197.925) and Auburn claiming second (196.825).

QUICK HITS

• Sophomore Nicole Lehrmann (Big 12 Event Specialist of the Week) and freshman Maggie Nichols (Big 12 Newcomer of the Week) brought OU's total conference honors in 2017 to 13 after being recognized for their performances against No. 8 Denver, No. 20 Nebraska and TWU.

• Three current Sooners have scored perfect 10.0s in their careers, including Brenna Dowell (UB, 2015), Chayse Capps (BB, 2016) and Maggie Nichols (VT and BB, 2017).

• OU started 2017 ranked No. 1 in the NACGC/W Preseason Coaches' Poll for the second straight season. It marks the seventh straight year the Sooners have been ranked in the top five nationally to begin the season.

• Oklahoma returns eight previous NCAA All-Americans who own 21 total accolades: Natalie Brown (BB), Chayse Capps (VT, UB, BB, FX, AA), Brenna Dowell (UB, FX), Nicole Lehrmann (UB, BB), Kara Lovan (FX), AJ Jackson (VT, UB, FX), Charity Jones (VT, BB) and McKenzie Wofford (UB).

• With 287 victories at Oklahoma, head coach K.J. Kindler is within striking distance of her 300th win with the Sooners. For her coaching career, Kindler has 345 total victories.

TICKETS

Tickets cost $15 and are available at the Cox Convention Center Box Office or at CoxConventionCenter.com. University students gain free admission with valid I.D.

ON THE AIR

Friday's meet will air through Sooner Sports TV on FOX Sports Southwest and FOX College Sports Central and will stream on FOX Sports Go. Former OU greats Bart Conner and Kelly Garrison-Funderburk will call the action, and Megan McDonald will be on the sidelines.

UP NEXT

The Sooners will take on three top-15 foes as they face No. 2 LSU, No. 9 Georgia and No. 13 Missouri in the GYMQuarters Invitational in St. Charles, Mo. The podium meet begins at 6:30 p.m. CT on Friday, Feb. 17, and will stream through FloGymnastics.