No. 20 UK Gymnastics Travels to No. 7 LSU for Meet Friday
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LEXINGTON, Ky. – Looking to right the ship after last week’s matchup at Auburn, the Kentucky Wildcats head down to Baton Rouge, La., to face the LSU Tigers in the second Southeastern Conference tilt of the young 2016 season.
The meet can be caught on the SEC Network, airing at 8:30 p.m. ET, as well as on the SEC Network +/ Watch ESPN app. John Roethlisberger and Alicia Sacramone-Quinn will be on the call.
Despite impressive performances from freshman Sidney Dukes, junior Taylor Puryear and sophomore Cori Rechenmacher, the UK gymnastics team fell short last Friday evening, as the Auburn Tigers handed Kentucky its first loss of 2016, 196.275-195.175. Dukes’ 39.125 was good for her second all-around title, while Puryear (floor, 9.825) and Rechenmacher (beam, 9.850) both took home individual event titles.
UK RANKED IN THE TOP 25 FOLLOWING SECOND WEEK
Kentucky bumped up a spot following a 195.175 performance at Auburn, moving to No. 20 in the nation with an average of 195.000. The Wildcats join the rest of the SEC in the top 25, as the only conference to have its entire conference represented in the top 25.
DUKES, HYLAND TOP 50 IN ALL-AROUND
Kentucky freshmen Sidney Dukes and Alex Hyland both rank among the top 50 in the nation in All-Around following the second week of action. Dukes ranks 23rd following her 39.125 outing, while Hyland’s 39.025 is good for No. 33 in the nation.
HYLAND TOP 25 ON BEAM
With a 9.850 average on the balance beam this season, freshman Alex Hyland ranks among the top 25 beam performers in the nation, coming in a tie for 23rd.
SCOUTING THE TIGERS
LSU enters Friday’s meet as the No. 7 team in the nation following wins against Oklahoma and NC State. The Tigers’ 49.338 average on vault leads the nation after returning six All-America performers from the previous season.
LOOKING AHEAD: GEORGIA
Following Friday’s matchup with LSU, Kentucky returns home for a showdown with the No. 9 Georgia Bulldogs. The meet is scheduled for Friday, Jan. 29 at 7 p.m. in Memorial Coliseum. Tickets can be purchased by calling the ticket office at 1-800-928-2287.
For complete news and updates on the Kentucky Gymnastics program, go to UKathletics.com. Breaking news, behind-the-scenes updates and more can be found on Twitter at @UKGymnastics and Facebook at Facebook.com/UKGymnastics.
