Results
Tying a school record with its best performance of the season, the University ofKentucky gymnastics team defeated No. 22 Illinois, 195.875-193.525, on Saturday, Feb.10, at Memorial Coliseum. The score matches the UK record set in 1996.
This is a huge emotional victory for us, Coach Leah Little said. Weve pushed theseathletes, and they were frustrated. We knew they were capable of this type of performance,and now they have shown it. We just have to build on this and get ready for Denver nextweek to put ourselves in good position for the postseason.
The GymKats (2-4, 0-3 Southeastern Conference) began competition on their bestevent, the vault, and proceeded to score a season-high 48.925 as all five individual scoreswere season highs. Counting no score less than 9.725, UK was led by junior JenniferSimmons first-place 9.850, while freshman Aronda Primault tallied a 9.825. Not far behindwere freshman Julie Joy (9.775), sophomore Melanie Zaharias (9.750) and junior KatieToups (9.725). With some falls by Illinois (0-5) on the bars, UK took a commanding48.925-47.775 lead.
On the uneven bars, UK matched its beam score to increase the overall lead. Toupsled the way in this rotation with a season-high 9.825 to claim individual honors. Lempcontributed a 9.800 for second place, while junior Nicole Allen and Joy tied for third with a9.775, both career highs. Simmons closed out the scoring with a season-high 9.750.
The Illini picked up some ground in the third rotation with a strong performance on thefloor exercise, but the GymKats hung tough by scoring the fifth-best balance beam score inschool history with a 48.825. Sophomore Mindy Smith was tops on the beam for UK for thefifth time this season by scoring a 9.875. Allen added 9.800, as sophomore Karla Adeltand Lemp each scored a 9.725, a career high for Adelt. Primault finished with a 9.700.
In the closing rotation, the floor exercise, UK scored over 49.000 for the first time thisseason with a 49.200, the third-best floor score in school history. Primault closed out acareer night with a career-high 9.875 for first-place. Close on her heels were senior BethColeman, Allen and Simmons at 9.850. Joy closed out the scoring with a career-high9.775.
With her first all-around performance of the season, Primault put together an excellentscore of 39.075, a team high this season, to claim individual honors.
The GymKats leave the confines of Memorial Coliseum again next week for athree-week road swing that begins at the University of Denver on Friday, Feb. 16. Actiongets underway at 9 p.m. EST.
UK Scores
Vault 48.925 Uneven Bars 48.925Jessie Lemp 9.675 Nicole Allen 9.775Katie Toups 9.725 Jessie Lemp 9.800Julie Joy 9.775 Aronda Primault 9.675 Jennifer Simmons 9.850 Julie Joy 9.775Aronda Primault 9.825 Katie Toups 9.825Melanie Zaharias 9.750 Jennifer Simmons 9.750
Balance Beam 48.825 Floor Exercise 49.200Karla Adelt 9.725 Nicole Allen 9.850Jessie Lemp 9.725 Beth Coleman 9.850Nicole Allen 9.800 Julie Joy 9.775Jennifer Simmons 9.575 Aronda Primault 9.875Mindy Smith 9.875 Mindy Smith 9.325Aronda Primault 9.700 Jennifer Simmons 9.850
All-AroundAronda Primault 39.075Jennifer Simmons 38.025
