NORMAN – The No. 1 Oklahoma women's gymnastics team remained undefeated on the season with a 197.825-197.225 victory over No. 8 Kentucky Friday night inside Lloyd Noble Center.
Faith Torrez won a trio of event titles with a 39.625 in the all-around, 9.975 on vault and 9.95 on floor.
Audrey Davis earned the event title on bars with a 9.95, and Kentucky's Isabella Magnelli won beam with a 9.95.
Behind Torrez in the all-around was
Jordan Bowers with a 39.600. Rounding out the top three was
Addison Fatta, who earned a career-high 39.500 after her strongest meet of the season.
"I'm really happy with (my performance)," Fatta said. "After (KJ and I) talked last weekend, I wanted to switch some things up, maybe change some things mentally. I've really been focusing on that in the gym and I wanted to bring it into the meet today. When I'm in the gym, I'm typically smiley, giggly and then I step into the meet and I'm more serious. I change my attitude a bit. This meet I really tried to stay smiley and giggly and not be too focused on what I'm doing."
The Sooners started with a bang on vault, earning a season-high 49.550 to Kentucky's 49.275 on bars. The highlight of the rotation were stuck vaults from Torrez and Bowers. Torrez earned a near-perfect 9.975 to set her career high, while Bowers earned a season-best 9.95.
Lily Pederson started the rotation with a big 1.5 for a 9.9, followed by a career-high 9.875 from Fatta.
Keira Wells added a 9.850 and
Elle Mueller made her vault debut with a 9.825 in the anchor spot.
"There were a lot of really good things," head coach K.J. Kindler said. "Faith sticking three vaults in a row, three meets in a row is very unusual and very rare so that was an amazing moment. Jordan had her first stick of the season on vault. Keira is one of our best vaulters and I know she has that 9.95 in her so I would just love to see that come out. We did make a switch and we have been waiting to put Elle in because she needs to get experience and without that exhibition position there's just no way to do it. So we saw that the scores were pretty healthy going into that last vaulter and we pulled Audrey so that Elle would have the opportunity."
OU extended it's lead with a 49.475 on bars to hold a 99.025-98.625 advantage at the halfway point. Dani Sievers made her return to the bar lineup with a 9.85, followed by a stuck dismount from Fatta for a 9.875. Pederson nailed her double layout dismount for a 9.925 in the No. 3 spot and Torrez added a 9.875 in the No. 4 spot. Davis did what she does best, earning her 21st score of 9.95 as she showcased incredible handstands and a gorgeous stuck dismount. Bowers closed out the rotation with a 9.85.
A 49.275 on beam gave the Sooners a 148.300-147.900 lead through three rotations. Leading off was Davis showing off her incredible flexibility and steady composure for a 9.9. Wells added a 9.8 in the No. 2 spot, followed by a 9.85 from Fatta as she stuck her gainer full dismount. Bowers's gorgeous lines and a strong series highlighted her 9.9 routine in the No. 4 spot. An uncharacteristic mistake for Pederson on her series earned her a 9.725 in the No. 5 spot. Torrez anchored with a 9.825 after sticking her gainer full dismount.
The Sooners secured the victory with a 49.525 on floor. Davis started the final rotation with her energetic routine for a 9.875, followed by fierceness from Fatta for a career-high 9.9. Mueller's intense choreography was on display for a 9.8, while Pederson followed with another upbeat performance for a 9.9. Bowers showed off an incredible opening pass and had the crowd mesmerized for a 9.9 in the No. 5 spot. Torrez nailed the landing on her double back to close out the meet on a high note with a 9.95.
The Sooners will head to Baton Rouge, La., for a showdown with the reigning national champions. OU and LSU will face off at 7:45 p.m. CT on Friday, Feb. 14, inside Pete Maravich Center.
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