No. 7 Missouri gymnastics earned a narrow 196.825-196.800 victory over No. 25 Kentucky on Friday night at Historic Memorial Coliseum, securing the Tigers’ first win in Lexington in program history.
The Tigers (6-3, 2-3 SEC) outscored the Wildcats (1-7, 1-3 SEC) on vault and uneven bars and withstood a late push on floor to clinch the meet by 0.025. Kentucky needed a perfect 10.0 on its final floor routine to overtake Missouri, but fell short by .025.
Missouri opened strong on bars, totaling 49.225 in the first rotation. Freshman Kimarra Echols tied her career high with a 9.950, earning a share of her second uneven bars title and marking her fifth score of 9.900 or better this season. Junior Hannah Horton added a 9.925 from the fifth spot, her third score of 9.925 or higher this year, while sophomore Olivia Kelly posted a season-best 9.875.
On vault, the Tigers tallied a 49.200 to take a 98.425-98.200 lead at the midway point. Redshirt senior Elise Tisler highlighted the rotation with a team-best 9.900 to claim her first vault title as a Tiger, while Horton closed with a 9.825. Sophomore Railey Jackson led off with a 9.825, while junior Kennedy Griffin and Echols each matched that mark. Missouri extended its advantage on floor with a meet-best 49.375.
Jackson opened with a 9.850, followed by Tisler’s 9.875. Horton matched her career high with a 9.950 to share the event title, and Griffin anchored with a 9.925, her fifth consecutive 9.925 on floor.
The Tigers sealed the win on beam, scoring 49.025. Redshirt senior Amy Wier led off with a 9.850, graduate student Lauren Macpherson added a 9.875 and Jackson contributed a 9.850. Sophomore Kaia Tanskanen chipped in a 9.800 as Missouri finished with a 196.825.
Missouri returns home Friday, Feb. 20, hosting the Mizzou Quad at Mizzou Arena against Air Force, Ball State and Illinois. The meet will stream on SEC Network+.
