No. 25 Kentucky gymnastics hosted No. 7 Missouri for an “I <3 Kentucky Night” that saw the Wildcats falling short to the Tigers in a nailbiter of a meet, 196.825-196.800.
Despite the loss, Kentucky’s Delaynee Rodriguez continued to dominate for the Cats, holding the top all-around score of 39.500. The junior posted high scores in both bars and floor.
The Wildcats opened the night on vault with freshman Addisyn Hofseth setting the tone, scoring a career-high 9.800. Cecily Rizo and Callie Gardner both quickly followed Hofseth, each scoring a 9.825, with the latter matching her personal best.
Sophomore Ryan Noonan followed with a 9.775, which set up Rodriguez to contribute her own 9.825. The Cats finished with a 49.150 following Anna Flynn Cashion, closing the round with a 9.875.
Kentucky moved on to the second round of uneven bars and had a rough start with Isabella Rivelli suffering an early fall, scoring a 9.275.
Freshman Sabrina Nemcek had her second collegiate performance, earning a score of 9.925, a new career high. Gabby Van Frayen followed Nemcek’s performance, earning a score of 9.425.
The bottom of the lineup came in clutch for the Cats to finish with a score of 49.050. Bennett was able to set the tone, matching her career high of 9.850, followed by Noonan scoring a new career high of 9.900, and Rodriguez closing the round, matching her own career high of 9.950.
The Cats moved on to the balance beam in the third round, with Cecily Rizo starting the rotation off with a 9.750. Following Rizo, All-American Creslyn Brose matched her season best with a score of 9.875.
Sharon Lee recovered from a fall to score a 9.100 and set up Bennett to match another career high with a 9.900, her first 9.900 of the season.
Van Frayen was able to put up her own 9.900 to tie Bennett in the top beam score. The win was Bennett’s first and Van Frayen’s second beam win in two weeks.
Rodriguez closed out the round for Kentucky with a score of 9.775, helping the Cats to finish beam with a 49.200.
The Cats closed the night out on floor exercise with Van Frayen opening the round, matching her career high of 9.850, followed by Bennett’s 9.800.
With the help of Gardner and Rizo, who added scores of 9.850 and 9.750, respectively, Kentucky started surging toward a second SEC win.
Rodriguez and Brose each delivered a score of 9.950 to close out the round, tying for the top score on floor. With that score, Rodriguez recorded a new career high, and Brose recorded her third consecutive 9.950 and individual event victory.
Despite the Cats’ rally for victory, they fell just shy of the perfect 10.0 needed by Brose to earn the win, finishing the round with a 49.400.
The Cats will host Georgia on Friday, Feb. 27, at 6 p.m. EST. The meet will be held at Historic Memorial Coliseum and will be streamed on SEC Network+.
