No. 13 Arkansas second in tough road meet

Jump toArkansas’ scores SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – The 13th-ranked University of Arkansas endured several challenges before even getting to the meet but rallied for a second-place showing at No. 3 Utah in quad action. Arkansas literally vaulted into second place with a 48.975 on the final rotation finishing with a 193.625 behind third-ranked Utah who won the meet with a 196.150. No. 22 BYU was third scoring a 192.600 followed by No. 29 Southern Utah who posted a 190.650. “We talked a lot about battling through the adversity before the meet,” said co-head coach Mark Cook,, “and I think the team did a really good job and showed a lot of character tonight.” Arkansas endured several travel delays finally arriving in Salt Lake City around 2:00 pm for the 7:00 p.m. start. A mechanical problem forced the Gym’Backs to stay in Bentonville on their Thursday travel day. After leaving on a 5:45 a.m. flight to Dallas, Texas, Friday morning, Arkansas suffered another setback with a flight delay at DFW finally getting to Utah in time for lunch and a quick trip over to the gym. The long-awaited start of the meet began with Arkansas on bars paced by senior Cassie Drew out of the gate but a pair of bad falls hampered the Gym’Backs’ start. Arkansas scored a 47.725 trailing the other three teams after the first rotation. Drew was again called upon to lead Arkansas on the beam and started strong for the Gym’Backs. A solid flight series and good dismount earned the Raleigh, N.C., native a 9.55. Arkansas got better on beam as the event went on with a 9.675 from freshman Allison Daniels followed by a 9.725 from Emily Peacock. Junior Samantha Cortez added a 9.675 and Magee wrapped things up with an Arkansas event-best 9.875. The 48.625 scored by Arkansas pulled the Gym’Backs into third place after two rotations with a 96.20. The Gym’Backs got a good routine out of Magee to start the floor with a 9.80, followed by a 9.775 from Alex LaChance and a 9.675 from Michelle Stout. But back-to-back falls slowed Arkansas’ progress but Peacock anchored the event with a 9.70 giving Arkansas a 48.300 on the event and a 144.50 for the meet. Still in third place, the Gym’Backs needed a good vault score to jump up into second by the end of the meet. A season-best 9.825 from Magee was a great start for the Gym’Backs in the final rotation. Drew followed up with a 9.750 and LaChance tied her season-best with a 9.825 as Arkansas scratched its way back into the scoring. Cortez added a 9.725 and Stout finished with a 9.850 as the Gym’Backs finished second in the quad. Arkansas returns home hosting top-ranked Southeastern Conference foe Florida Feb.9, followed by No. 4 Alabama Feb. 9. For more information and tickets please call the Lady Razorback Ticket Office at 57-LBACK.