LEXINGTON, Ky.?The University of Kentucky gymnastics squad hopes to carry the momentum from last weekend?s season-best 195.525 score into Tuscaloosa, Ala., as the No. 17 Wildcats face the No. 4 Alabama Crimson Tide. Meet time is set for 8 p.m. EST in Coleman Coliseum and live stats will be available on ukathletics.com.
Last Friday, UK (4-3) won each of its four events, marking the first time in school history that the Wildcats have scored 49.000 or better on three different events, to finish first in the quad meet against Ball State, George Washington and Ohio State. The Cats were led by senior Michelle Gales? first-place 39.250 performance in the all-around, including a 9.925 score on floor. Junior Lucy Burgin, competing in only her second collegiate all-around, notched a 38.475 on the four events to finish third.
?We?ve just got to bring the same energy we had last weekend into every meet as we try to go down and knock off Alabama,? UK head coach Mo Muhammad said. ?We always compete well at Alabama and hopefully we can come home with an SEC victory.?
Alabama enters Friday?s meet coming off of a 196.900-194.350 victory over intrastate rival Auburn last week. The Crimson Tide are the national leaders in home attendance, averaging more than 11,000 fans per home meet.
Alabama gymnasts junior Ashley Miles and freshman Terin Humphrey remain ranked No. 1 nationally in their respective events. For the third week in a row, Miles is first on vault and floor while Humphrey is again first on the balance beam.
Following Friday?s meet, the Cats return home to host LSU in Memorial Coliseum on Friday, Feb. 18. Meet time is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. and the meet will be aired tape-delay on Fox Sports Network Feb. 26 at 4 p.m. ET.
– UK –