UCLA Gymnastics Puts Up Monster Score in NCAA Regional Semifinals
The Bruins' pursuit of an eighth national title has officially begun, and they certainly started off on the right foot at Pauley Pavilion on Thursday night.
No. 4 UCLA gymnastics looked right at home in the second round of the NCAA Los Angeles Regional, finishing first in the second session with a 198.275 team score. That didn't only match the Bruins' season high in any meet, but it also set the new record for highest NCAA postseason score in school history.
No. 13 Missouri finished in second, while Stanford and Boise State were sent home after finishing third and fourth in the session, respectively.
Per usual, sophomore Jordan Chiles led the way for UCLA by winning the all-around with a 39.750. Freshman Selena Harris wasn't far behind in second at 39.650, though, and the Bruins got 17 of their 20 routines to score 9.900 or better overall.
Sophomore Emily Lee opened the day with a clean 9.900 on beam, only for freshman Ciena Alipio to one-up her with a 9.925. Sophomore Ana Padurariu's 9.800 marked a temporary step back, but Chiles came through with another 9.900. After Harris took things to the next level with a 9.975, sophomore Emma Malabuyo matched it with a 9.975 of her own that pushed the Bruins further into first place with a season-high 49.675.
For the first time all season, UCLA's lowest score came on floor, where they were ranked No. 1 in the country entering Thursday. Still, the Bruins' lowest floor score since Feb. 3 was a 49.500 that actually extended their lead over the Tigers.
Lee once again led off, but only posted a 9.800 in her second routine of the day. That was UCLA's low score on floor, however, as sophomore Brooklyn Moors immediately followed it up with a 9.925.
Harris posted a 9.900, then redshirt senior Margzetta Frazier earned a 9.825 before junior Chae Campbell out up a 9.900. Chiles rounded things out with a 9.950 to bring the Bruins up to a 99.175 midway through the meet.
As way the case on beam, UCLA once again got five scores of 9.900 or better on vault, starting with Frazier's leadoff 9.900. Lee's 9.850 didn't count, but Moors' 9.900 did. After not appearing in competition all season, the former Canadian Olympian followed in her teammates' footsteps by sticking two scores in the 9.900s.
Campbell stepped up with a 9.950, followed by a 9.900 from Harris and a 9.925 from Chiles. The 49.575 the Bruins earned was their highest vault score of the season, and it became their sixth-highest score on the event in school history.
UCLA cruised into the last rotation up by nearly a full point, but they weren't slowing down just yet.
The Bruins opened up on bars with a 9.850 from Campbell, a 9.800 from Lee, a 9.900 from Padurariu and a 9.875 from Harris. Frazier stuck a 9.925 in the penultimate routine of the night, setting up the top-ranked Chiles for a 9.975 – although her teammates and the crowd were shouting for a perfect 10.
That was just the cherry on top for UCLA, as the Bruins ran away with the win in their home arena.
The Los Angeles Regional Finals are set for Saturday at 5 p.m., and the Bruins will need to finish in either first or second to make the NCAA championships on April 13 and 15. UCLA will be going head-to-head with Pac-12 rival Utah on Saturday, as well as Washington and Missouri.
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