Feb. 19, 2011

LEXINGTON, Ky. – After a Southeastern Conference dual meet with No. 6 Alabama on Friday, the University of Kentucky gymnastics team hits the road again for its second meet in three days when it travels to face No. 14 Ohio State at 2 p.m. ET in St. John Arena on Sunday in Columbus, Ohio.

Kentucky (2-5, 0-5 SEC) is coming off a meet at Alabama, where the Wildcats narrowly missed posting season-high marks on vault, uneven bars and floor exercise. Seniors Jasmine Minion and Phylicia Reshard led the way for the Wildcats in the meet, with Minion scoring 9.9s on vault and floor and Reshard tying a career high on bars and balance beam. Reshard also narrowly missed tying her career high all-around score, posting a 39.2.

UK came into the weekend represented well in the GymInfo rankings, sitting in the top 25 on two events, while four gymnasts are ranked in the top 25 in the nation. UK’s highest event ranking is on floor, where the Wildcats are seventh in the nation with an average of 48.945 and a season high of 49.15. Kentucky is also ranked 17th on vault with an average of 48.865. Junior Whitney Rose is ranked 16th in the nation on vault with an average of 9.86, while seniors Andrea Mitchell, Reshard and Minion are tied for 23rd on floor with all three averaging 9.83 this season on the event.

Ohio State (5-2-1, 2-1-1 Big Ten) is fresh off a convincing 195.200-192.675 victory over Michigan State on Friday. The Buckeyes enter the meet ranked 14th in the nation, sitting in the top 25 on each event. The Buckeyes are ninth in the nation on beam with an average of 48.696, while sitting 15th on vault with an average of 48.913. Ohio State is also No. 20 on floor and No. 25 on bars.

The meet with the Buckeyes is the second in a stretch of four meets in 10 days for the Wildcats. Live scores for the meet will be available at UKathletics.com.