(Photo by John Kelley)
[su_spacer size=”40″] Trailing after three rotations, Georgia posted a season-best score of 49.550 on floor, matching its highest score on the event since 2010, to seal the win and improve to 4-6 on the year (3-4 SEC). The No. 18 Razorbacks fall to 5-7 with a 2-5 mark in the conference.
[su_spacer size=”40″] Georgia rallied to take the lead with a 9.95 by Marino in the fourth spot on floor. Then Arkansas tied the meet with a 9.9 on its last routine of the night. Georgia needed a 9.85 by Box to win, and her career-high 9.95 clinched the Gymdog victory.
[su_spacer size=”20″] [foogallery id=”52429″] [su_spacer size=”20″] “We’ve been talking about finishing strong,” head coach Danna Durante said. “Let’s fight all the way until the end. That’s kind of been our message the whole year. We’ve had adversity quite a bit throughout every meet. And every week, they are continuing to fight, and I think that’s important. They took a huge step in the right direction.”
[su_spacer size=”40″] Chelsea Davis propelled the Gymdogs to an early lead with a career-high 9.95 on vault. Brittany Rogers added a 9.9 in the closing spot. After one rotation, Georgia held a 49.275-49.075 advantage.
[su_spacer size=”40″] The duo of Davis and Rogers paced the Gymdogs on bars with scores of 9.9 and 9.95, respectively. Kiera Brown and Sarah Persinger earned a pair if 9.85s, and freshman Hayley Sanders competed for the first time in her career in the closing spot. After the Razorback’s 49.275 on vault, Georgia led 98.550-98.350 at the halfway mark.
[su_spacer size=”40″] On beam, Vivi Babalis scored a career-high 9.875 and Rogers tallied a season-best 9.925, but Georgia was forced to count a fall in the rotation. Arkansas posted a 49.2 on floor, and the Gymdogs trailed 147.550-147.225 heading into the final rotation.
[su_spacer size=”40″] Persinger ignited Georgia’s comeback performance on floor with a 9.9, tying her career high. Morgan Reynolds and Babalis also added a pair of 9.875s, which marked a season-high for Reynolds and a career-high for Babalis.
[su_spacer size=”40″] Saturday’s meet served as Alumni Night, and the 2005 team was honored, as well as Distinguished Alumni of the Year Emily Bridgers.
[su_spacer size=”40″] “Just hearing the alumni, they were amazing tonight,” Persinger said. “It was exciting feeling like I was competing for them and enveloped in that tradition. It was a wonderful environment, especially there at the end on floor. I couldn’t believe the roar, and at the end of my floor routine, I just held that pose and took it all in. It was the most incredible feeling.”
[su_spacer size=”40″] Prior to the meet, Brandie Jay sustained a left ankle injury during warmups and was not able to compete.
[su_spacer size=”40″] Georgia will return to action for its final home meet of the regular season next Saturday against undefeated and fourth-ranked Utah at 4 p.m. ET. The meet will broadcast live on the SEC Network +.
[su_spacer size=”60″] Georgia vs Arkansas Team Results
1. Georgia – 196.775 (VT- 49.275, UB- 49.275, BB- 48.675, FX- 49.550)
2. Arkansas – 196.650 (VT- 49.275, UB- 49.075, BB- 49.100, FX- 49.200)
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Vault
Natalie Vaculik – 9.800, Beth Roberts – 9.775, Gigi Marino – 9.800, Chelsea Davis – 9.950, Ashlyn Broussard – 9.825, Brittany Rogers – 9.900
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Bars
Natalie Vaculik – 9.725, Sarah Persinger – 9.850, Kiera Brown – 9.850, Chelsea Davis – 9.900, Brittany Rogers – 9.950, Hayley Sanders – 9.700
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Beam
Natalie Vaculik – 9.775, Kiera Brown – 9.300, Vivi Babalis – 9.875, Brittany Rogers – 9.925, Ashlyn Broussard – 9.125, Mary Beth Box – 9.800
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Floor
Sarah Persinger – 9.900, Morgan Reynolds – 9.875, Kiera Brown – 9.825, Gigi Marino – 9.950, Vivi Babalis -9.875, Mary Beth Box – 9.950