Olivia Dunne scores career-high 9.9 with sensational floor routine after being subbed on LAST MINUTE for LSU as Tigers book place in Regional Finals

Olivia Dunne scored a 9.90 despite being called to anchor the LSU Tigers in floor exercises on short notice.

On Thursday, the Tigers won the second round of the NCAA women's gymnastics regionals, with a score of 197.80, in Fayetteville, Arkansas. The victory punched their ticket to the NCAA Regionals on Saturday.

In a competition against BYU, Oregon State, and No. 15 Minnesota, Dunne subbed in for Kiya Johnson in the last minute to anchor a noteworthy team performance.

'We pulled Kiya out in the end not because of anything particular,' head coach Jay Clark said. 'We knew the meet was at hand and we needed to go easy on her body.'

LSU recorded one of its highest scores on the floor, with every gymnast scoring 9.90 or higher. Junior Aleah Finnegan topped the team with a perfect 10.

Freshmen Amari Drayton and Konnor McClain each scored 9.90. KJ Johnson followed with a 9.95. After Finnegan's 10-point routine, Haleigh Bryant scored a 9.95.

'Floor is kind of our hallmark,' Clark said. 'I knew if they could finish off on that event it would kind of propel them into the next day.'

The Tigers uncharacteristically had a slow start on the vault, finishing second in their first rotation. Johnson, Finnegan, Drayton, and Savannah Schoenherr led off with 9.850s before Chase Brock pulled LSU's first 9.90 of the meet. Bryant anchored with a 9.925.

After their floor exercises, the Tigers moved on to uneven bars, where Ashley Cowan led with a score of 9.90.

Following the second rotation of the meet, LSU led with a 148.075 score. BYU and Oregon State trailed second and third, respectively. Nevertheless, they managed to maintain a lead for the win and advance to Saturday's meet with second-placed Minnesota.

'I'm very pleased,' Clark said. 'This whole thing is just to get here and get to the next day.'

'They came in here and adjusted,' Clark said. 'They should be very free of mind when we get back in here on Saturday.'