No. 11 Arkansas scores a 195.95 at No. 1 Georgia Saturday

Jump to results ATHENS, GA. – The 11th-ranked University of Arkansas tied is second-best score of the year with a 195.95 against No. 1 Georgia in Athens, Ga., Saturday. Top-ranked Georgia won the meet and finished the year undefeated in the Southeastern Conference, 197.90-195.95. “We were great on the first three events,” said co-head coach Mark Cook. “We got a little distracted on the beam but we fought through. I’m proud of the team and how they stayed together.” Arkansas struggled to a 48.525 on the beam as a fall and two big wobbles lowered the total score. Sophomore Casey Jo Magee finished second in the all-around scoring a 39.375. Magee also tied for third on the balance beam as Arkansas’ top finisher. Sophomore Allison Daniels opened the meet with a career-best 9.875 leading Arkansas to a season-high 49.175 on the bars. Senior Samantha Cortez also had a career-high with a 9.825 while Magee also tallied a 9.825. The team score of 49.175 ranks tied for fifth all-time for the Gym’Back program. But it would take more in the Gym Dogs home gym as top-ranked Georgia, who ranks third in the nation this week on vault, scored a season-best 49.575 with a perfect 10.0 from Katie Heenan, a 9.975 from Courtney Kupets and a 9.925 from Cassidy McComb as the home team took the lead after the first rotation. Arkansas moved to vault where they posted a 49.15, helping the Gym’Backs to a pair of 49-plus scores on the first two events for the second time this season. Sophomore Sarah Nagashima finished the rotation with a career-best 9.875 and sophomore Amy DeFilippo tied her career-high with a 9.85 – one of three consecutive 9.85s in the rotation. Despite all of Arkansas’ success, Georgia continued its blistering pace with a 49.50 on the bars to lead Arkansas, 99.075-98.325 after two events. Arkansas moved next to the floor exercise beginning with Nagashima performing her first collegiate floor exercise after the Gym’Backs decided against competing sophomore Ashly McPherson who has a neck strain. Nagashima recorded a 9.825 to get Arkansas started in the third event. The Gym’Backs were solid in the remaining floor routines scoring a 49.10 with a team-high 9.875 from senior Emily Peacock. Nagashima’s 9.825 along with the same score from Magee pushed Arkansas to a 147.425 after three events. Arkansas would wrap up the meet on the beam but a fall from the opening performer put a bit of added pressure on the remaining competitors. DeFilippo scored a solid 9.80 but a wobble from Peacock tallied a 9.60 – a score that would have to count for Arkansas. Freshman Stacy Bartlett executed her fast-pace routine, talking herself into a 9.525. Nagashima posted a 9.725 and Magee found herself with the difficult task of finishing sooner than expected after a Georgia gymnast was hurt and unable to continue on the floor. Magee answered the call despite the distraction of the sold-out crowd cheering as their injured gymnast was carried from the gym. Magee’s 9.875 helped Arkansas finish with a 48.525 in the final rotation. Saturday’s meet airs March 8, at 4:30 p.m. central on FSN South. Arkansas returns to road action next week traveling to No. 9 UCLA where they also face No. 4 Alabama and CS-Fullerton Sunday, March 9. For more information about Arkansas gymnastics, please log on to LADYBACKS.COM.