In a heartbreaking finish, 24th-ranked University of Kentucky fell to No. 25 North Carolina State by just 0.100 points, 192.550-192.450, at the Bahama Breeze Invitational on Friday, Jan. 11 in Nassau, Bahamas. Sophomore Julie Joy claimed the all-around title, her second straight this season, with a career-best 39.125 to help lead UK past No. 23 BYU 192.450-191.650.
Despite having three gymnasts out with injuries, the GymKats (2-1) led N.C. State (2-0) by 0.900 points heading into the final rotation. However, the Wolfpack scored a meet-high 49.050 on the uneven bars to overtake UK by a slim margin.
The GymKats got the night started on vault where they put together a solid 48.725. Melanie Zaharias led the way with a second-place 9.825. Joy finished fourth with a 9.800, while Julia Gore and Kara Prestigiacomo each contributed a 9.750. After the first rotation, UK was ahead of second-place BYU by 1.225 points.
In the second rotation on bars, Kentucky had a couple of mishaps but still was able to put together a 48.175 team performance. Joy and Jessie Lemp tied for second-place honors with a 9.850 each. In her first meet as a GymKat, freshman Lindsay Cameron contributed a 9.725, and senior Nicole Allen added a 9.650. Despite counting a fall, UK increased its overall lead to 1.775.
On beam, UK again had to count falls. However, behind Joy’s 9.725 and Mindy Smith’s 9.650, UK tallied a 47.500 to remain in the lead by 0.900 points over N.C. State.
In the final rotation, the GymKats put together a 48.050 team total, led by Nicole Allen’s 9.800, Joy’s 9.750 and Melanie Zaharias’ 9.725, but it was not enough to overcome N.C. State’s bar routines.
UK returns to the mats when the GymKats play host to No. 7 Florida on Friday, Jan. 18 for the Southeastern-Conference opener. Action is slated to get underway at 7:30 p.m. ET.
Team Scores1. N.C. State192.5502. Kentucky192.4503. BYU191.650
Attendance: 236
UK ScoresVault48.725Bars48.175
Kara Prestigiacomo 9.750Lindsay Cameron9.725Jessie Lemp9.600Jessie Lemp 9.850Julia Gore9.750Krista Prestigiacomo9.100Julie Joy9.800Nicole Allen9.650Melanie Zaharias9.825Julie Joy9.850
Beam47.500Floor48.050
Karla Adelt9.100Lindsay Cameron8.825Jessie Lemp9.575Kara Prestigiacomo9.325Nicole Allen9.450Nicole Allen9.800Julie Joy9.725Krista Prestigiacomo9.450Melanie Zaharias9.100Melanie Zaharias9.725Mindy Smith9.650Julie Joy9.750
All-Around
Julie Joy39.125
