Alabama
Kentucky
No. 6 Alabama Comes up Short in 197.600-196.975 Loss to No. 3 Kentucky
2/2/2024 11:30:00 PM | Gymnastics
The Crimson Tide earned podium finishes on all four events behind a total of eight individual season-high scores
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – The No. 6 Alabama gymnastics program (5-1-1, 2-1-1 SEC) came up short against the No. 3 Kentucky Wildcats (5-2; 3-1 SEC), 197.600-196.975, Friday night in Coleman Coliseum. Despite suffering its first loss of the season, the Crimson Tide managed to earn podium finishes on all four events behind a total of eight individual, season-high scores.
The opening rotation was highlighted by a career-high, 9.900 performance on vault from freshman Jamison Sears resulting in the first podium finish of her Crimson Tide career. Senior Cameron Machado would score her first of two 9.9s on the uneven bars to highlight UA's second rotation.
For the first time this season, Alabama found itself trailing against a top-10 opponent entering its final rotation. Not going down without a fight, the Tide would record three 9.900-or-higher scores on the floor exercise before ultimately falling to the Wildcats. The loss comes after facing a total of six top-10 nationally ranked opponents in the first five weeks of the season.
Head Coach Ashley Johnston Said
"Tonight didn't go exactly how we planned. We had a really good week of training in the gym and prepared really well. Unfortunately, though, we had too many people that were off tonight. I think it is normal to have one person off every now and then but collectively, we had too many people that were a little bit off their game and not quite clicking together. I could look at a lot of different areas in ways we can improve and ways that we can grow from this meet. Ultimately, though, it's going to come down to the team deciding that this is going to be a moment that they circle, learn from, and grow from. With another big matchup coming up, it will be important for us to pivot and adjust the necessary tweaks to keep moving forward."
Inside the Score Sheet
- Seven Alabama gymnasts posted a total of eight individual, season-high scores
- UA recorded its second-highest rotation score on the floor exercise (49.400)
- With the highest score on vault by a UA gymnast (9.900), Jamison Sears recorded the first podium finish of her Crimson Tide campaign after recording a career-high mark
- Cameron Machado (9.900) and Natalia Pawlak (9.875) recorded their first podium finishes, respectively, on the uneven bars
- The 9.875 was a season-high mark in the event for Pawlak
- Gabby Gladieux podiumed on the balance beam via a season-high 9.875 score
- Machado (9.900) and Luisa Blanco (9.925) recorded podium finishes on the floor exercises behind season-high scores
Up Next
- Alabama will travel to Auburn, Ala., to face its in-state rival at 8 p.m. CT on Feb. 9
- The meet will be broadcast live on SEC Network
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Players Mentioned
