ATHENS, Ga. — Freshman Krystle Cook scored career-highs on vault, floor and the all-around and freshman Rachel Riley posted career-bests on beam and all-around, but the No. 22 Wildcats (1-3, 0-2 SEC) could not over come the No. 4 Georgia Bulldogs (5-3, 2-0 SEC) who took the head-to-head meet, 197.375 ? 193.725, Saturday night. The Wildcats and Gym Dogs performed in front of over 9,000 fans that provided plenty of energy and life to the meet.
?I think it was good for our team to perform in front of such a large crowd,? said Coach ?Mo? Muhammad. ?We have several young athletes that will benefit from this experience as we continue to elevate our program to higher heights.?
Sophomore Staci O?Keefe was Kentucky?s top performer on uneven bars as she led the Cats off with a 9.775. The Wildcats finished with a 48.425 team score in the event and trailed the Gym Dogs 49.425 ? 48.425 after the first rotation.
In the second rotation, Cook gave the Wildcats a boost with her career-high 9.875 performance and led Kentucky to a 48.825 team score on vault. Senior Aronda Primault, Kentucky?s leading performer on vault, sat out the event due to injury. UK trailed UGA 98.325 ? 97.250 after the first two rotations.
The floor exercise was Kentucky?s best event of the night. The Wildcats posted a season-high 49.075 with Primault leading the way as she tied her season-high with a 9.900. Junior Michelle Gales? fiery 9.875 floor performance drew great crowd response and freshman Rachel Riley posted a 9.825 in the floor exercise.
Riley (9.850) and redshirt freshman Bethany Strauch (9.700) scored career-highs on beam. Unfortunately, UK was forced to count three falls on beam and finished with a 47.400 team score in the event.
The meet was a homecoming for four Kentucky gymnasts, Gales, Bethany Strauch, and Kara and Krista Prestigiacomo, who are all Georgia natives.
The Wildcats return home for a tri-meet against Auburn and George Washington Friday, Jan. 30 at 7:30 p.m. in Memorial Coliseum.
Kentucky Scores Vault Lindsay Cameron 9.600 Alison Sarucci 9.725 Krystle Cook 9.875* Rachel Riley 9.725 Michelle Gales 9.725 Kara Prestigiacomo 9.775 Bars Staci O?Keefe 9.775 Rachel Riley 9.725 Aronda Primault 9.675 Krystle Cook 9.575 Michelle Gales 9.300 Julie Joy 9.675 Beam Michelle Gales 9.150 Rachel Riley 9.850* Aronda Primault 9.325 Staci O?Keefe 9.100 Bethany Strauch 9.700* Krystle Cook 9.375 Floor Krystle Cook 9.750* Alison Sarucci 9.725 Julie Joy 9.675 Rachel Riley 9.825 Michelle Gales 9.875 Aronda Primault 9.900 All-Around Krystle Cook 38.575 Michelle Gales 38.050 Rachel Riley 39.125 * indicates a personal best
