Kentucky gymnastics (0-6) fell short (197.550-196.475) to No 1. Oklahoma (5-0-1) on at Historical Memorial Coliseum.  

The Wildcats are now on a six-game losing streak to start the season, and a three-game losing streak to Oklahoma. Despite the tough loss, Kentucky had its highest score of the season so far and could potentially be turning a corner.

The Wildcats show clear improvement and growth as they’ve gotten further into the season.  

Delaynee Rodriguez put on a show for Kentucky’s “Rhinestone Cowgirl night” with a career-best 39.550 to win the all-around with Cecily Rizo just behind her by 1.025.   

Kentucky started off the night solid on the vault. Addisyn Hofseth set the tone of the night earning a 9.775. Rodriguez dominated her first debut of the night with a new season-high sticking a Yurchenko 1.5 and received the top score for the Cats, posting a 9.925.

Following right behind, Ryan Noonan with a 9.825. 

On the uneven bars, Chesney Bennett, who posted a 9.800 stuck the landing to help keep the momentum, as did Noonan and Rodriguez after both earning a 9.850 back-to-back to finish strong and help the Cats stay in it.   

The Cats left the vault with a season-high score of 49.025.  

For the next rotation, the Cats traveled to the beam, where they earned an overall score of 49.000. 

Although that was the Cats’ lowest scoring event for the night, Creslyn Brose showed out with a score of 9.875, with Bennett following behind with a 9.825. Rodriguez continued to show her steadfast resilienceby finishing off the event strong with a 9.900, despite three Sooners posting a 9.900+ to help them win that event by .475.  

The strong floor rotation helped keep the Wildcats at pace with the Sooners, where the Cats performed their highest scoring event for the night, earning a 49.350. 

Gabby Van Frayen started off a sharp routine for the cats with a 9.800, following Bennett and Rodriguez both scoring a 9.875, a season-high for Bennett. Transfer Callie Gardener kept the pressure on by earning a 9.850 on the floor, a career best. 

To cap off the night, Memorial Coliseum lit up as Brose showed out on her floor routine, the highest floor score of the night and a season-high for herself. Her performance displayed a strong finish for the Wildcats, posting just short of a 10, a 9.950. The Cats beat the Sooners on the floor by .25, marking Kentucky’s only event win of the night. 

Ending in a nail biter, the Sooners defeated the Wildcats by 1.075 on the road.  

In spite of the loss, Kentucky will hope to use their momentum from Friday night to carry on to next week in conference play.