FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — The No. 18 University of Kentucky (7-4, 1-4) gymnastics squad suffered a difficult 196.350-196.250 loss to No. 19 Arkansas (5-9, 1-4) Friday evening despite posting a season-high team score for a second consecutive meet and the second highest mark in school history. Junior Krystle Cook paced the Cats with career-high and the fifth highest all-around score nationally this season.

?I am extremely proud of our squad,? head coach Mo Muhammad said. ?We would have liked to get the win, but this was the type of performance we were looking for. I think this shows what we are capable of and gives us a lot of momentum as we inch closer to the SEC meet and Regionals.?

The Cats got off to a blistering start with a 49.025 on bars. Cook tied a career-high with a 9.925 and finished second behind the Arkansas? Emily Peacock (9.950). Freshman Natalie Rubinstein finished third and tied a career-best with a 9.875.

Cook carried the momentum of the bars over to vault and registered a 9.9 ? her third of the season ? en route to a first place tie with UA?s Melissa Leigh. For the event, Kentucky registered a 49.025. Despite an excellent start, the Cats trailed the Gym?Backs 98.200-98.050 after two rotations.

On floor, the Cats were once again led by Cook and freshman Heather Hite, who both posted a pair of 9.825s. After three rotations, UK still trailed the red hot Gym?Backs, 147.175-146.900.

Kentucky had fell on hard times the previous two meets on beam, but didn?t allow that to get in the way as it posted a season-high mark of 49.350. The score tied a UK all-time mark (2001, at Alabama). Sophomore Kristen O?Shields was one of many Cats to post a career-high on the evening, earning first place honors with a 9.925. Hite recorded her third 9.9 of the season on beam and finished second.

Cook cruised to a first place finish and a career-high in the all-around competition (39.525). As of Friday night, Cook now owns the fifth highest single-meet tally in the country for 2006. Senior Lucy Burgin also posted a career-high 39.100 and finished behind Cook.

Before notching its 196.350 team score, Arkansas? season-high score was 194.575.

The Cats continue SEC action next weekend when they travel to Athens, Ga. to take on No. 1 Georgia, Fri., March 3, at 7 p.m.