AUBURN Ala. – The University of Kentucky gymnastics squad fell just short of its first Southeastern Conference victory Friday night in Beard-Eaves Memorial Coliseum. An inquiry caused the meet to come down to the final seconds as Auburn edged out the Cats 194.100-194.000. Auburn’s standout freshman Julie Dwyer took the all-around for the fourth time this season with a 39.025 score.
“It’s tough to drop one like that,” said UK head coach Mo Muhammad. “Going into the last event and losing by one-tenth of a point is hard. We came out and competed and there is nothing to say about having it in your hands and giving it away. We have to stop that.”
Kentucky (1-3, 0-3 SEC) battled the bars on its first rotation led by senior co-captain Michelle Gales’ second-place 9.8. Junior Rachel Riley and Lucy Burgin both recorded marks of 9.750 to help the Cats edge out Auburn 48.700-48.600. Burgin and sophomore Sarai Sevier tied career-highs on bars while freshman Crissy Cannon also scored a career-high.
UK then moved to vault where freshman Kristen O’Shields’ 9.775 was the Cats’ highest mark, tying her career-high. Also recording top marks were Lindsay Cameron, who set a career-high with a 9.775. The Cats were down 97.350-97.600 to the Tigers after two rotations.
Kentucky’s stronghold, floor was up next and Michelle Gales first-place performance electrified the Auburn crowd with a season-high tying performance 9.9. Four Wildcats recorded scores of 9.7 or higher including senior Krista Prestigiacomo and Riley’s 9.75s. Kentucky continued on to the final apparatus, vault just behind Auburn 146.150-145.150.
On beam, the Wildcats out-scored the Tigers 47.850-47.550. O’Shields captured her third first-place finish with a score of 9.750. Riley scored a 9.725 to tie for second while Burgin finished fourth with a 9.700 for her first collegiate performance on vault.
?Beam is our event and we let it go tonight,? Muhammad said. ?We have to work hard next week and come out to our quad meet and put 24 routines together.?
Burgin finished third in the first all-around performance of her collegiate career with a 38.775 on the four events, while Riley finished second with a 38.925 mark.
?Lucy stepped up and I?m so proud of her, especially for her first time competing in the all-around,? Muhammad said. ?I can?t say enough about her performance, coming back to her home state of Alabama.?
Kentucky hosts Ball State, George Washington and Ohio State next Friday at Memorial Coliseum. Meet time is set for 7:30 p.m. and doors open at 6:30 p.m. The first 250 father/daughter pairs receive free team photos. For more information, log on to ukathletics.com
– UK –
