No. 9 Kentucky Records Highest Score Ever With 197.100 in Win Over No. 11 Auburn
Kentucky wasted no time
in breaking a program high set just one week ago. After posting a
196.950 at Florida last weekend, the No. 9 Wildcats turned around and
scored a 197.100 in their home opener in front of the sold out crowd
inside Memorial Coliseum on Friday night. UK took down No. 11 Auburn,
197.100 – 195.800, earning its first Southeastern Conference win of the
year. Kentucky improves to 2-1 on the young season and 1-1 in SEC
action. “That was a fun night,” head coach Tim Garrison
said. “Especially in front of this crowd. This score tells a lot about
our athletes. Our kids are very confident, and are competing at a very
high level. They have a lot of confidence and a little bit of swagger
to them and that’s what they need to keep. We’re in the SEC. We’re
going to go against tough competition every single night.” The
score not only hits a program high, but individual rotations had record
nights as well. Kentucky shined on the floor, posting a 49.525 as a
team, good for the second highest score ever. UK did the same on beam,
posting a 49.425, also the second highest ever. Bars, at 49.225, is the
fourth best. “We have our four all-arounders that are
doing really well right now,” Garrison remarked. “We also have a lot of
what I would call ‘next level’ role players. When you have Cori
(Rechenmacher) as a junior doing three events and performing at an
extremely high level and then you’ve got Katie Carlisle as well. We ‘re
in a good place right now but we still have a lot of work to do.” Freshman
Mollie Korth stood out once again, winning the all-around crown in her
third-straight event. Korth posted a 39.450, while taking two
individual wins. Korth put up an impressive 9.950 on floor and 9.875 on
bars for the crowns. She also posted a 9.850 on the beam and 9.775 on
the vault. “I’m so proud of myself and my team,” Korth
said. “There’s always room for improvement. I’m going to keep working
hard practice and hopefully keep it up.” Sophomore Katie
Stuart and sophomore Sidney Dukes followed Korth in the all-around
standings with a score of 39.425. Stuart tied with Korth for the bars
crown with a score of 9.875 and Dukes posted a career-best 9.950 for
the beam win. “The crowd roared (after her 9.950 on
beam),” Dukes commented. “It was an amazing feeling. There’s nothing
like a Big Blue Nation crowd.” Sophomore Danaea Davis also posted a win on the vault with a career-high 9.850. Kentucky
returns home to Memorial Coliseum next Friday, Jan. 27 at 7 p.m. to
take on the No. 2 LSU Tigers. The meet can be watched live on SEC
Network+. Vault Kentucky edged Auburn 48.925-48.800 on
vault, led by Davis with a career best 9.850. Sophomore Alex Hyland put
up a 9.800, while Stuart and Korth followed with solid 9.775’s each. Uneven Bars The
Wildcats took down the Tigers 49.225-49.125 on bars. After a career
high from Stuart with the 9.875 helped her share the crown with Korth.
Carlisle was impressive with a 9.850 and Dukes followed with a 9.825. Beam UK
bested Auburn 49.425-48.950 on beam, and no Wildcat scored under a
9.825. After Dukes hit her career-high 9.950, she was followed by three
9.875’s from Hyland, freshman Hailey Poland and Stuart. Poland and
Stuart’s were both career bests. Korth posted a 9.850, while
Rechenmacher scored a 9.825. Floor The floor was
Kentucky’s best event of the night, and UK defeated Auburn
49.525-48.925. Four scores went above a 9.9, with Korth posting a 9.950
on the floor and Dukes a 9.925. Hyland and Stuart trailed with 9.9’s
while Rechenmacher posted a 9.850.
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