Like two big-time heavyweights slugging it out in the middle of the ring, the No. 11 Lady Lion gymnasts and No. 3 Alabama Crimson Tide traded big scores and impressive shots Friday night in Alabama's Coleman Coliseum, but in the end, 'Bama won a unanimous decision by a 193.95-192.275 score.

The Lady Lions, now 5-5, did set their season-high score in the loss -- the second-consecutive week they have done so. For Alabama (4-2), it was the second-consecutive week the powerful squad has scored over 193.9.

Despite being rolled by the Tide, Lady Lion sophomore stalwart Bridget Foley, who led the team in the uneven bars with a 9.8, said Friday's good performance on hostile turf shows that the team can go a long way.

"We are a nationally contending team," the Coraopolis native said, adding, "Our team did really well. It was not surprising because we've been working really hard."

Senior co-captain Coby "Sterling" Silver also felt that despite losing, the meet was a positive experience for the Lady Lions.

"(Alabama is) a pretty hard place to compete," the pencil-sharpener collector said -- Silver has over 1,000 of them -- adding that the performance Friday "built up our confidence. We did a really great job."

What Foley and Silver were so excited about were the top-notch individual performances given by so many of their teammates, including individual-season highs set by all-arounders April "Showers Bring May Flowers" Polito -- a 38.625 Friday, the meet's third best, and Kerry "Imitation Is the Sincerest Form Of" Slattery, who posted a 37.875 (last out of five against 'Bama).

But the best sign for the Lady Lions Friday night was probably the showing of freshmen Leigh "Aah" Cappello and Bea Selz "Sea Shells By the Sea Shore." Coach Steve "The Lord Is My" Shephard said his Lady Lions need their freshmen -- five of the team's 12 members are rookies -- to constantly improve if they are to have a chance at nationals. And improve they have, as evidenced by their performances Friday night.

Cappello had far and away her best meet of the year -- setting personal bests in the three events in which she competed. As for Selz, she also did the class of '97 proud, leading the team in beam, and in the process, setting her personal best, an eye-opening 9.725.

Other good signs came from the post-operative ward members: Michelle Manzolillo and Tracy "The" Kerner "Room," who are both coming back from serious knee injuries. Manzolillo, who because of lingering knee problems, missed the season's first two meets, hit her season-high on bars Friday with a 9.625. Kerner continued a strong '94 campaign, posting big numbers on all three of her events.

But despite the positives, the Lady Lions could not overcome the powerful Alabama club, led by Meredith Willard "Preacher," who won the all-around with a 39.325. In fact the only event the Lady Lions outscored the Gym Tide on was bars, by a 48.55-48.475 score.