The 7.264 fans in Pauley Pavilion were treated to all-star performances from Christine Peng-Peng Lee, who scored 9.95 to win bars and 9.975 to win beam; Samantha Peszek, who won the all-around with a 39.625 and earned three scores of 9.9 or higher; Jordan Williams, who won vault with a career-high 9.95; and Danusia Francis, who scored 9.9 or better on all three events in which she competed, including 9.95s on beam and floor.
These high-scoring routines helped counteract two out-of-bounds deductions on floor and a few short dismounts on uneven bars, allowing the team to post its third consecutive 197 score of the season.
UCLA got off to a good start on vault, posting a team total of 49.3. Sonya Meraz started the rotation with a 9.8, followed by back-to-back 9.825s from JaNay Honest and Sadiqua Bynum. After LaNiesha-Jopré Irvin's 9.775, Peszek and Williams closed strong with scores of 9.9 and 9.95, respectively. Williams' 9.95 was her second this season and gave her the win on the event.
In rotation two, Francis led off on uneven bars with a stellar 9.9, and after three scores in the 9.6 range, the Bruins needed some big routines to maintain their lead. Lee and Peszek delivered with scores of 9.95 and 9.9, respectively. The Bruins scored 49.0 to hold serve with Nebraska, who earned 48.925 on beam.
UCLA's beam set was stunning in rotation three, with the final three competitors scoring 9.95 or higher. Mikaela Gerber led off with a 9.8, followed by a 9.775 by Meraz. Sophina DeJesus followed with a 9.85, and then UCLA's 1-2-3 punch at the back end of the lineup put on a show. Francis started things off with a 9.95, and Lee brought the house down with her nearly flawless routine that earned a 10.0 from one judge and a 9.95 from the other for a final score of 9.975, a new career-high. Peszek closed it with her third 9.95 of the year to bump the Bruins' score to a season-high 49.525. Even with Nebraska scoring 49.475 on floor, UCLA increased its lead to four-tenths heading into the final rotation.
The Huskers, ranked No. 2 in the nation on vault, scored 49.225 in the final rotation, a score which the Bruins matched on floor. Jennifer Pinches tied her career-best with a 9.875 leadoff mark. Out-of-bounds deductions by Meraz and DeJesus did no harm in the final standings after Francis posted a career-high 9.95, Peszek scored 9.875 and Bynum earned her fourth-straight 9.925.
UCLA's success wasn't limited to its scoring competitors. The Bruins had exhibition performers receive big (non-team scoring) marks, with Lee scoring 9.925 on vault, Rechelle Dennis making her UCLA debut on bars and scoring 9.825, Hallie Mossett earning 9.85 on beam, and Napualani Hall scoring 9.875 on floor.
UCLA (8-1) next travels to Arizona State for a Saturday meet in Tempe on Feb. 28. The meet will be televised live on Pac-12 Networks at 11am PT.