UCLA
Utah
UCLA's Season-High 198.025 Lands Just Shy vs. Utah
February 23, 2020 | Gymnastics
LOS ANGELES – In a nailbiting matchup between two teams tied for No. 3 in the nation, Utah edged out UCLA, 198.075-198.025, after scoring a perfect 10 on its last beam routine. The Bruins were spectacular in defeat, recording season-high team, vault, beam and floor marks. UCLA senior Grace Glenn made NCAA history by becoming the first gymnast ever to record a leadoff perfect 10 on the balance beam.
"I can't say enough about the performance of these women here on the team," said UCLA head coach Chris Waller. "They went lights out. It took us a moment to get rolling; the effort was always there, the focus was there, but after bars, they just blew it up. Bottom line is we keep improving, and this shows us and the rest of the world that, yeah, we're legit."
UCLA (8-3) had its best vault rotation of the season, scoring 49.375, led by Ross's season-high 9.95, a 9.875 by Felicia Hano and 9.85s by Nia Dennis, Gracie Kramer and Kendal Poston. The Bruins, however, trailed after the rotation, as Utah (9-0) totaled 49.6 on uneven bars, powered by five scores of 9.9 or higher, including Kim Tessen's 9.95.
The Bruins made up some ground in rotation two after scoring 49.325 on bars to Utah's 49.225 on vault. Career-highs by Savannah Kooyman (9.9) and Kalyany Steele (9.925) and a 9.925 by Kyla Ross led the way for UCLA, while Utah's final two gymnasts, Alexia Burch and Tessen, closed the rotation with a pair of 9.9s.
Rotation three saw both teams bring their best. Utah scored a season-high 49.475 on floor exercise, while UCLA recorded its season-high of 49.525. Glenn's 10 paced the Bruins, who also got season-highs from Ross (9.975) and Nicki Shapiro (9.9) and a career-high 9.825 from Hano. The beam score drew the Bruins to within .075 with one rotation remaining, 148.300-148.225.
History. Made.@GraceGraceglenn became the first gymnast in NCAA history to score a leadoff ?? on the balance beam. Congratulations, GG! #GoBruins pic.twitter.com/LA5XKpzYBq
— UCLA Gymnastics (@uclagymnastics) February 24, 2020
It came down to both teams competing in the final rotation on their best events – Utah on beam and UCLA on floor. Leadoff performer Norah Flatley's 9.925 on floor put the Bruins in the lead temporarily after Emilie LeBlanc led off with a 9.8. Burch followed LeBlanc with a 9.95, earning a 10 from one judge. Freshman Chloe Lashbrooke countered with a 9.9. In the three spot, Maile O'Keefe scored 9.9 on beam, while Dennis recorded a career-high-tying 9.975. Fourth up, Cristal Isa earned a 9.95, and Kramer countered with a 9.975. After Adrienne Randall's 9.975 on beam, Hano scored 9.95 on beam. With the Utes looking to drop a 9.8, freshman Abby Paulson stepped up and delivered a perfect 10 that clinched the meet before Ross could close the meet with her second 9.975 score of the meet.
Ross continued her unbeaten all-around streak with her seventh title, scoring a season-high 39.825. She also took first place on vault with her 9.95 and tied for first with Dennis and Kramer on floor with a 9.975. Glenn and Paulson tied for first on balance beam with their perfect marks, and Tessen won uneven bars with a 9.95.
The Bruins will be back in action on Saturday, Feb. 29 at Oregon State in a meet that will be televised live on Pac-12 Networks at 1pm PT.
Players Mentioned
