Jan. 29, 2009

LEXINGTON, Ky. – After a season-high performance last week, the 28th-ranked Kentucky gymnastics team (1-2 overall, 0-2 Southeastern Conference) travels to Gainesville, Fla., to take on the No. 5 Florida Gators (2-1, 1-1 SEC) in their third annual Gators Link to Pink meet. Events aimed to raise awareness about breast cancer prevention and treatment will be included at Friday’s meet which begins at 7 p.m. ET in the Stephen C. O’Connell Center. The meet will be available for live viewing and scoring on Gator Vision. More information will also be on www.gatorzone.com.

Both teams are looking to rebound from recent losses to conference foes. Previously ranked No. 1 in the nation, Florida was defeated on the road by the No. 8 Arkansas Razorbacks, 196.375-195.425. The loss was the first in the all-time series between UF and Arkansas with the Gators leading 19-1.

Florida also leads the overall series with Kentucky. The Wildcats have only outscored the Gators once on Jan. 16, 1998 in Lexington.

Last time out, Kentucky hosted No. 10 LSU (6-1, 1-1 SEC) in the Cats’ conference home-opener but fell to the Tigers, 196.575-195.225. Both overall scores were season-highs for the teams. During the meet, the Wildcats set season-highs on three events, while head coach Mo Mitchell earned his career-high vault score of 49.225. The new score was also a top-10 in school history. Freshman Whitney Rose and junior Emily Green contributed two 9.9’s, while also taking the event’s title. Kentucky currently ranks No. 7 on the vault with an average of 49.075.

The Blue and White improved scores not only on the vault, but with a 48.975 on the uneven bars and 49.200 secured season-bests on both events.

Individually, sophomore Jasmine Minion and Green are top-25 on the vault while senior Natalie Rubinstein is ranked 20th on the uneven bars, averaging a 9.850. Junior Hillary Ferguson is 17th on the floor exercise.

The meet between the Wildcats and Gators will be taped and re-aired on Sat., Feb. 7 at 9:30 p.m. ET on FSN.

Kentucky will also host a “Pink Meet” next Friday on Feb. 6 against Arkansas at 7 p.m. ET in Memorial Coliseum.