Feb. 24, 2000

LEXINGTON, Kty. – The University of Kentucky gymnastics team returns home on Friday, Feb. 25 at 7:30 p.m. in Memorial Coliseum, take on third-ranked Alabama.

The GymKats (3-6, 1-2 SEC) are coming off a tough loss to No. 14 N.C. State in Raleigh last weekend. Kentucky finished the evening with a score of 193.125, while sophomore Katie Toups set a new career high on the uneven bars with a score of 9.875.

Kentucky was closing in on posting its best score of the season going into the final rotation, but was forced to count three falls, eliminating their chances of pulling the upset.

“This team is capable of so much more than it is showing right now,” Coach Leah Little said. “It is really important that they come out this weekend and show everyone how great I know they can be. This meet is very important to our post-season opportunities and the gymnasts know what they have to do.”

Alabama (11-3, 5-2 SEC) enters this weekend’s meet after losing to Arizona State in a quad meet in Tempe, Ariz. last weekend. The Crimson Tide posted a strong score of 195.300 but couldn’t overcome host ASU, who took top honors with a team total of 195.580.

The Tide started the season off strong by winning the Super Six Challenge in Athens, Ga., an event comprised of the top six teams from the 1999 nationals in Salt Lake City. The Tide stunned defending national champion Georgia, 195.750-195.400, handing the Bulldogs their first loss in 30 meets.

Kentucky last met Alabama at the 1999 SEC Championships in Tuscaloosa, where the Tide finished second to eventual national champion Georgia. The Cats posted a strong score of 194.875 en route to a fifth-place finish behind Florida and LSU. The Kats are winless in 30 meetings with the Tide.