No. 24 Kentucky Breaks 197, Ties No. 7 Arkansas
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – No. 24 Kentucky (1-7-1, 1-3-1 SEC) posted its second score above the 197 point barrier of the season in a tie at No. 7 Arkansas (5-4-1, 2-2-1 SEC) on Friday night, with both teams scoring identical marks of 197.125.
Delaynee Rodriguez posted her second best all-around total of her career, scoring a 39.575 for her sixth all-around title in seven meets this season. Rodriguez also claimed the win on the uneven bars with a score of 9.925, moving her season event win total to 13.
The meet is the first tie for the Wildcats since the 2021 NCAA Salt Lake Regional Final where the Cats and Arizona State tied for third with scores of 197.600. Before tonight, the Wildcats had not tied a dual meet since February 8, 2013 against No. 6 Georgia.
Kentucky continues to build upon its scores as the season progresses, scoring above 197 for the second consecutive road meet and posting a mark of at least 196.800 for three weeks in a row.
The Wildcats began the night on the uneven bars, posting a solid score of 49.275. Cecily Rizo returned to the lineup with a 9.775 in the leadoff spot, followed by another stellar routine from Sabrina Nemcek, who scored a 9.850 in just the third routine of her collegiate career. Gabby Van Frayen and Chesney Bennett each scored 9.825s, followed by a 9.850 from Ryan Noonan. Rodriguez closed the rotation with a dynamic routine sealed with a stuck double layout dismount to earn a 9.925 and the event title.
On the vault, Kentucky scored a 49.175 to continue its streak of at least a 49.100 in every meet this season. Addisyn Hofseth began the rotation with a 9.775, followed by Rizo and Callie Gardner at 9.800. Noonan posted her second mark of 9.850 tonight, with Rodriguez following with the same score. Anna Flynn Cashion capped the second rotation with a 9.875 for the second consecutive week.
Moving to the floor exercise, the Cats scored a 49.325—the fourth consecutive meet in which Kentucky has scored at least 49.300 on the event. Van Frayen began the rotation with a 9.775 with Rizo scoring a 9.800 in the No. 2 spot. Bennett and Gardner each posted marks of 9.850, setting up the one-two punch of Rodriguez and Creslyn Brose. Rodriguez delivered a 9.900 and Brose finished the rotation with a dynamic performance and a score of 9.925.
Kentucky closed the meet with its best rotation of the night, scoring a 49.350 on the balance beam. The rotation was the best of the season on the event for the Wildcats, surpassing its previous season best by .15 points. Rizo matched her career high in the leadoff spot with a 9.800, finishing her return to the all-around with a career-best score of 39.175. Brose added a 9.825, setting up Sharon Lee and Bennett for back-to-back marks of 9.900, with the former earning her first 9.900 of 2026. Van Frayen posted a 9.825 with the penultimate routine of the night. Rodriguez delivered in the anchor position once again, scoring her third 9.900+ score of the night to secure the tie for the Cats.
The Wildcats will return home next week, hosting No. 6 Georgia for the penultimate home meet of the 2026 regular season. The meet from Historic Memorial Coliseum will begin at 6 p.m. ET on Friday, February 27 and will be televised on SEC Network.
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