LEXINGTON ? The University of Kentucky gymnastics squad fell to No. 5 Florida (9-2, 3-2), 196.400-195.550, Friday evening in Memorial Coliseum. Despite the loss, the No. 18 Cats (7-3, 1-3) continued to improve by posting season-high team scores on bars, floor and overall.
?We came out extremely poised,? head coach Mo Muhammad said following the meet. ?I thought we were a routine or two away from having a real breakthrough performance. We had some slippage on beam, but closed out the meet very strong on floor. I am pleased with our effort and they way each of our kids competed.?
Kentucky started the meet on vault where freshman Natalie Rubinstein and juniors Krystle Cook and Rachel Riley (career-high) all posted 9.825s. UK?s team score of 48.925 was its second highest total of the season.
On bars, Kentucky came away with a season-high 49.050. Cook took home first place honors with a season-best 9.9, followed by senior Lucy Burgin?s third place finish and career-high tying 9.875. The Cats placed four of the top six in the event. After two rotations, UK trailed Florida, 98.100-97.975.
The Cats ran into some tough times on the beam, but freshman Heather Hite helped salvage the team score with a 9.8 and third place finish to close out the rotation. Entering the meet, Kentucky ranked 12th nationally on beam.
UK finished the meet with a season-high 49.225 on floor. Hite recorded her third 9.9 of her Wildcat career en route to a second place finish, while Rubinstein notched a season-best 9.850. Hite came into the meet ranked 22nd nationally with a 9.779 average. Once again, the Cats placed four of the top six gymnasts.
In all-around competition, Florida?s Corey Hartung earned first place praise with a 39.450. Hartung entered the meet ranked 18th nationally. The Gators? Ashley Reed finished second (39.200), followed by Cook?s career-high tying 39.175.
Up next, the Cats travel to Fayetteville, Ark. for a match-up against the No. 21 Razorbacks, Fri., Feb. 24, at 7 p.m. CT. The meet will be televised by FOX Sports South and rebroadcast on a tape-delayed basis, March 4, at 6 p.m. ET.
