Feb. 26, 2010
LEXINGTON, Ky. — –
The No. 12 University of Kentucky gymnastics team won one event but second-ranked Alabama proved too much in defeating the Wildcats 197.225-195.650 Friday at Memorial Coliseum.
Kentucky (4-6, 1-5 Southeastern Conference) saw three gymnastics tie career-high scores on the floor exercise as the Wildcats claimed the team title in the event 49.275-49.075 over the Crimson Tide (8-1, 5-1 SEC).
UK junior Jasmine Minion (Memphis, Tenn.) matched her career best on the floor with a 9.875 to tie teammate senior Hillary Ferguson (Richmond, Ky.) for second place. UK junior Andrea Mitchell (Knoxville, Tenn.) and senior Emily Green (Penfield, N.Y.) tied for fourth at 9.850. Mitchell’s effort tied her career-high score. UK’s Phylicia Reshard (West Chester, Ohio) matched her career-high score at 9.825 to finish seventh.
Alabama’s Morgan Dennis won three titles plus the all-around competition to lead all gymnasts. She finished first on the floor (9.900) and vault (9.975) while sharing the balance beam title (9.900) with teammate Ashley Priess. Dennis’ 39.550 all-around score finished ahead of Alabama teammates Priess (39.525) and Kayla Hoffman (39.400).
Kentucky senior Emilie Rymer (Medina, Ohio) charted a season-high 9.850 score on the uneven bars to tie Alabama’s Geralen Stack-Eaton for third place. Alabama’s Kayla Hoffman and Ashley Priess shared title honors at 9.875. Alabama won the bars 49.200-40.025.
Sophomore Whitney Rose (Frisco, Texas) led all UK performers on the vault with a 9.900. She tied for fourth behind a trio of Crimson Tide gymnasts, Dennis (9.975), Hoffman (9.950) and Ricki Lebegern (9.925). Alabama won the vault 49.650-49.125.
Alabama swept the balance beam en route to a 49.300-48.225 victory in the event. Dennis and Priess shared title honors at 9.900, followed by fellow Crimson Tide gymnasts Lebegern and Stack-Eaton who shared third place at 9.850. Green led all UK performers with a 9.775.
Alabama’s Dennis won the all-around with a 39.550 score. UK’s Mitchell finished sixth at 39.025.
Kentucky travels to Kent State on Friday, March 5. The dual meet starts at 7 p.m. EST. The Wildcats have one remaining home meet this season. UK plays host to Illinois State and George Washington at Memorial Coliseum on March 12 at 7 p.m. EST.
For complete coverage of Kentucky gymnastics, please visit ukathletics.com and follow “UKGymnastics” on Facebook and Twitter.
AGATE
Final Score: No. 2 Alabama 197.225, No. 12 Kentucky 195.650
Vault: 1. Morgan Dennis (UA) 9.975; 2. Kayla Hoffman (UA) 9.950; 3. Ricki Lebegern (UA) 9.925 Bars: T1. Ashley Priess (UA) 9.875, Kayla Hoffman (UA) 9.875; T3. Emilie Rymer (UK), Geralen Stack-Eaton (UA) 9.850
Beam: T1. Ashley Priess (UA) 9.900, Morgan Dennis (UA) 9.900; T3. Ricki Lebegern (UA) 9.850, Geralen Stack-Eaton (UA) 9.850.
Floor: 1. Morgan Dennis (UA) 9.900; T2. Jasmine Minion (UK) 9.875; 3. Hillary Ferguson (UK) 9.875.
All-Around: 1. Morgan Dennis (UA) 39.550; 2. Ashley Priess (UA) 39.525; 3. Kayla Hoffman (UK) 39.400.
UK Scores
Vault: Rose (9.900), Minion (9.875), Green (9.825), Ferguson (9.775), Michell (9.750), Reshard (9.750).
Bars: Rymer (9.850), Morris (9.825), Reimann (9.850), Ciokajlo (9.775), Mitchell (9.775), Rose (8.700).
Beam: Morris (9.675), Green (9.675), Rose (9.650), Mitchell (9.650), Rymer (9.575), Ferguson (9.200).
Floor: Ferguson (9.875), Minion (9.875), Green (9.850), Mitchell (9.850), Reshard (9.825), Rymer (9.800),
All-Around: Mitchell (39.025)
