March 5, 2009
IOWA CITY, Iowa – The Wildcats (6-7 overall, 0-6 Southeastern Conference) have broken back into the top 25 after four wins during Senior Night with a season-high score of 195.250 and a 194.650 at West Virginia the following Sunday. No. 24 Kentucky looks to improve its position in the polls and the team’s Regional Qualifying Score (RQS) as they head to Iowa City, Iowa, for a road meet against the No. 23 Hawkeyes (9-4, 2-1 Big Ten).
This will be only the third meeting between the two schools, with Kentucky leading the series, 2-0. The last time Iowa and UK met was in 2001 at a quad meet with Arizona State and Nebraska. The Cats finished third with a 194.350 while the Hawkeyes were fourth scoring a 193.425.
Previously, the Blue and White earned 16 season-highs, including two career marks and five event titles during the meets on Friday and Sunday last week. During Friday’s Senior Night, the Cats took titles on three of four events, while also placing in the top-three on all four events including the all-around. All three seniors earned either a season-high, tied a season-high or grabbed a career mark on the weekend.
Senior Bridget Carreiro notched a personal best 9.800 on the beam during Senior Night while senior Natalie Rubinstein took her second and third career titles on the uneven bars recording a season-high 9.875 on Friday and Sunday. Senior Heather Hite led on beam and floor during the weekend’s meets, taking the balance beam title each time. She earned a season-high 9.900 on Senior Night and a 9.850 at West Virginia.
Rubinstein, Hite and junior Emily Green are Kentucky’s three ranked individuals, all on separate events. Positioned at No. 22, Rubinstein is top-25 on the uneven bars; Hite is No. 26 on the balance beam with Green ranking No. 32 on the vault.
In the Wildcats’ domination Friday night, Green took the first Kentucky title with a 9.875 on vault against Ball State, Illinois, North Carolina and William & Mary. The top honor was the third this season for Green and her 14th career title. The Penfield, N.Y., native averages a 9.839 on the vault.
Last Saturday, Iowa defeated No. 25 Maryland, 194.875-192.175. With the win, Iowa is now 6-2 against ranked opponents this season. The Hawkeyes’ team score of 194.875 is their third-highest mark of the season. During the meet, Iowa recorded its highest team total score on vault, scoring a 49.225.
