CORVALLIS, Ore. ? The University of Kentucky gymnastics squad improved to 14-6 overall with a strong second place showing at the five-team Salbasgeon Suites Invitational Friday night in front of 2,809 fans in Gill Coliseum. The No. 18 Cats scored the third highest team score in program history (196.100) and finished closely behind host No. 17 Oregon State (196.550).
?I am so proud of this team,? head coach Mo Muhammad said following the meet. ?We came out here and took care of business. We are peaking at the right time and now have even more momentum heading into the SEC meet next weekend.?
The Cats opened the meet on beam and got back-to-back standout routines from junior Rachel Riley (9.8) and freshman Heather Hite (9.875) to close out the event. As a team, the Cats scored 48.725 and sat in second place behind Oregon State (49.325) after one rotation.
After having a bye on rotation two, Kentucky moved to floor where four Wildcats scored 9.825 or higher. Sophomore Kristen O?Shields and freshman Natalie Rubinstein paced the team with a pair of 9.875s ? both career-highs. Other Wildcat scores included Rachel Riley?s 9.825 and Hite?s 9.85. UK?s team score of 49.175 was the eighth highest mark in school history.
The Cats carried the momentum of floor over to vault where junior Krystle Cook scored a season-best 9.925, good for first place. Cook?s score marked the fifth time the Austin, Texas native had notched a 9.925 in the event. The remainder of the Wildcat vaulters were just as impressive with Rubinstein tying a career-best (9.875, t-fourth place), and senior Lucy Burgin and O?Shields scoring a pair of 9.8s. As a team, the Cats produced a season-high 49.125 and headed into their final event trailing host Oregon State by the slimmest of margins, 147.100-147.050.
For the third consecutive event, Kentucky went above the 49.0 mark, notching a 49.050 on bars to finish the meet. Cook came through with a sensational routine that netted the junior a 9.875 and first place, propelling Kentucky over the 196.0 team score mark for the second time this season (196.250, vs. Arkansas, 2/24). Junior Alison Sarucci placed second and tied a season-high with a 9.85, while Burgin placed third.
Oregon State?s Jami Lanz took home first in the all-around competition with an impressive 39.525. Riley was the Cats? top performer with a season-high 39.100.
Boise State finished third behind the Beavers and Wildcats with a 194.550, following by Washington (193.675) and NCAA Division II Seattle Pacific (190.750).
With the SEC meet, NCAA Regionals and potentially the NCAA Championships remaining, Kentucky has an excellent chance to become the first team in UK history to reach the 15-win plateau.
Up next, Kentucky travels to Birmingham, Ala. for the Southeastern Conference Championships, March 25.
