University of California, Los Angeles, Athletics
UCLA Places Second In Tri-Meet With Georgia, Arizona
March 06, 2011 | Gymnastics
March 6, 2011
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Los Angeles, Calif. - A shaky beam rotation proved costly for eighth-ranked UCLA, which scored 195.75 and placed second in a tri-meet with Georgia and Arizona. Georgia won the meet with a score of 196.175, and Arizona was third with a 194.125. The Bruins led by six-tenths at the halfway mark but had to count two falls on beam in the third rotation, allowing Georgia to move ahead.
The Bruins had event winners on vault (Tauny Frattone and Olivia Courtney), balance beam (Elyse Hopfner-Hibbs) and floor exercise (Frattone and Niki Tom).
UCLA started the meet with a 49.325 on vault to take a .125 lead over Georgia after one rotation. Lichelle Wong led off with a 9.8, followed by a 9.85 from Hopfner-Hibbs and a 9.725 from Brittani McCullough. Freshman Samantha Peszek made her season debut on vault, scoring 9.825. Courtney and Frattone closed the rotation with a pair of 9.925s, with Courtney tying her career-high and Frattone earning her sixth consecutive vault title.
On uneven bars, the Bruins had a few issues with their dismounts and finished with a team score of 49.0. UCLA was led by Aisha Gerber and Peszek, who each scored 9.825. Courtney contributed a 9.8, and Hopfner-Hibbs and McCullough added scores of 9.775.
UCLA's lead evaporated in the third rotation after falls from three gymnasts. Hopfner-Hibbs led the team with a season-high-tying 9.95, and Courtney scored a career-high 9.9. Tom also had a strong routine, scoring 9.775. But with three falls, UCLA scored just 48.2, falling to second place with 146.525. Georgia took over first place with a three-event score of 146.9.
Needing to make up .375 on the Gym Dogs in the final rotation, the Bruins were unable to catch up after Georgia scored 49.275 on bars. Frattone got the Bruins off to an outstanding start on floor, though, scoring a career-high-tying 9.9. Tom, one of six Bruin seniors honored on senior day, also tied her career-high with a 9.9. Sydney Sawa earned a 9.825, and Courtney recorded a 9.65 after taking a step out of bounds on her opening double Arabian pass. Hopfner-Hibbs scored 9.775, and McCullough closed with a 9.825 to give UCLA a 49.225 on floor.
Georgia's Cassidy McComb won the all-around with a 39.525. Hopfner-Hibbs was second with a 39.35, followed by Courtney with a 39.275.
UCLA seniors Tom, McCullough, Talia Kushynski, Allison Taylor, Mizuki Sato and Marci Bernholtz were honored in premeet ceremonies as the team competed in its final regular season home meet. The seniors were sent off in front of a season-high crowd of 5,837.
The Bruins wrap up the regular season on Sunday, Mar. 13 at Cal State Fullerton at 2 pm before hosting the Pac-10 Championships on Saturday, Mar. 19 in Pauley Pavilion.
