Drew Stout solid in No. 15 Gym'Back meet

Jump to meet results FAYETTEVILLE – Senior Cassie Drew and freshman Michelle Stout turned in solid performances leading the No. 15 University of Arkansas gymnastics team to a 194.175 against fifth-ranked Alabama in Barnhill Arena Friday. Arkansas lost the meet (197.00-194.175) but Drew notched a win on the floor with a season-best 9.850 tying Bama’s Erin Rightley for the top spot. Stout tied for third on the vault with a 9.875 and finished second in the all-around competition with a 38.950 for Arkansas. The Gym’Backs opened the meet on the vault and jumped out of the gates with a season-best 49.100 behind a pair of 9.875s from Stout and junior Samantha Cortez. The vault also featured Springdale, Ark., native Ashly McPherson in her first competition as a Gym’Back. McPherson scored a 9.70 becoming the first Arkansasan to compete for the Gym’Backs. Arkansas moved to the bars and faltered a bit with a fall and some low scores, a trend that would continue for the rest of the meet. The Gym’Backs posted a 48.50 on the bars with a 9.775 from junior Emily Peacock and a 9.750 from Stout. The balance beam was a trouble spot for Arkansas in an otherwise solid meet. Arkansas counted a pair of falls on the apparatus with a season-low 47.65. But Arkansas would come back in the final rotation notching a 48.925 on the floor Drew’s season-best 9.850 teamed with Peacock’s 9.825 and senior Rachel Barnett added a 9.80 as Arkansas tried to rally. The fifth-ranked Crimson Tide lived up to their billing with three 9.90s or better as they won or tied for the win on each event. The Gym’Backs hit the road for back-to-back Southeastern Conference action traveling to Kentucky and Auburn in the coming weeks. Arkansas returns to Fayetteville hosting a quad meet with West Virginia, Pittsburgh and New Hampshire March 9. For more information and tickets please call the Lady Razorback Ticket Office at 57-LBACK or log on to LADYBACKS.COM.