Jan. 8, 2000

Box Score

Athens, Ga. - The third-ranked UCLA women's gymnastics team placed fifth at the season-opening Super Six Challenge, scoring a 193.225. The meet was won by second-ranked Alabama, who finished with 195.75. Top-ranked and two-time defending NCAA champion Georgia lost for the first time in 30 meets, placing second with a 195.4. No. 4 Michigan was third with a 194.925, followed by No. 6 Nebraska with a 193.325.

Season-opening jitters played a big role in the Bruins' finish. Five Bruins fell off the beam, while UCLA's highest scorer (Doni Thompson, 9.525) received a 3-tenths deduction for touching the apparatus. After the first rotation, UCLA trailed the leader Georgia by nearly three full points, 49.25-46.275.

However, UCLA rebounded extremely well on its next event, pulling in a 49.15 on floor. The Bruins were paced by junior Mohini Bhardwaj, who scored a 9.9. Seniors Lena Degteva and Heidi Moneymaker each scored 9.85, while freshmen Malia Jones and Thompson each recorded 9.775s. UCLA also performed well on the vault, scoring a 49.025, led by Bhardwaj's 9.875.

In last place going into the final rotation, UCLA scored a 48.775 on bars to move up into fifth place. Bhardwaj capped the night for the Bruins with a career-high and first-place score of 9.95. Degteva also scored well for UCLA, recording a 9.9.

Bhardwaj placed fourth in the all-around despite a fall on the balance beam, scoring a 39.05. Georgia's Kristi Lichey placed first with a 39.425.

"I was pleased with the way the team rebounded after beam. They came out and hit floor and hit vault, and they learned a lot from tonight," said UCLA head coach Valorie Kondos.

Team Scores

1. Alabama - 195.750
2. Georgia - 195.400
3. Michigan - 194.925
4. Nebraska - 193.325
5. UCLA - 193.225
6. Florida - 193.025

UCLA scores
Beam - 46.275
Amy Young - 8.95 (36) 
Valerie Velasco - 9.2 (28t)
Doni Thompson - 9.525 (16)
Lena Degteva - 9.0 (34t)
Heidi Moneymaker - 9.225 (25t)
Mohini Bhardwaj - 9.325 (20t)

Floor - 49.15
Malia Jones - 9.775 (20t)
Doni Thompson - 9.775 (20t)
Mohini Bhardwaj - 9.9 (2t)
Onnie Willis - 9.75 (26t)
Lena Degteva - 9.85 (8t)
Heidi Moneymaker -9.85 (8t) 

Vault - 49.025
Malia Jones - 9.7 (23t)
Lena Degteva - 9.8 (8t)
Heidi Moneymaker - 9.85 (4t)
Mohini Bhardwaj - 9.875 (3)
Kristin Parker - 9.625 (31t)
Onnie Willis - 9.8 (8t)

Bars - 48.775
Malia Jones - 9.025 (34)
Kristin Parker - 9.825 (12t)
Lena Degteva - 9.9 (4t)
Doni Thompson - 9.8 (18t)
Heidi Moneymaker - 9.3 (30)
Mohini Bhardwaj - 9.95 (1)

All-Around
Mohini Bhardwaj - 39.05 (4)
Lena Degteva - 38.55 (11)
Heidi Moneymaker - 38.225 (12)