#10 UCLA Gymnastics Visits Washington After Taking Down #11 BYU
For the second time this season, UCLA scored over 49 points in three out of four events.
This afternoon, the UCLA gymnastics team is in Seattle for a dual meet against the Washington Huskies at 1 pm PT. Today’s meet will air on Pac-12 Networks.
It’s the second meet this week for the Bruins, who came off a ten-day break with a strong performance, beating the #11 BYU Cougars, 196.600 to 196.325. Nia Dennis posted with winning All-Around score with a 39.475.
The Bruins opened the meet on vault and UCLA was finally able to send six competitors to the mat. Pauline Tratz started off with a 9.775 and was followed by 9.825 by Kendal Poston. Margzetta Frazier added a 9.800 and Sekai Wright scored a 9.725 in her season debut in the event. Nia Dennis and Chae Campbell tied for the highest score, a 9.850. After the first rotation, the Bruins were up by just a tenth of a point, 49.100 to 49.000.
Rotation two took UCLA to the bars with Campbell starting off the event by earning a 9.850. Savannah Kooyman and Sara Ulias each posted a 9.725. That was Ulias’ first routine as a Bruin. Dennis opened her season in this event with a 9.800 while Frida Esparza earned an event-winning 9.900. Frazier anchored the bars team with a 9.850 and the Bruins had increased their lead, 98.225 to 97.925.
The UCLA beam team struggled slightly, allowing the Cougars to close the gap. Frazier began with a 9.725 and Poston followed with a 9.800. Next up was Esparza with a 9.750 and Dennis tying for the event title with a 9.900. Campbell earned a solid 9.775 and Samantha Satki’s fall in the anchor spot caused her score to be dropped. BYU had narrowed UCLA’s lead to a very thin margin of 147.175 to 147.100.
Luckily, UCLA closed the meet on floor and they put together a solid showing to get the win. Emma Andres and Wright started off with a pair of 9.775s and Tratz started the high score trend, earning a 9.900. Frazier bested Tratz with a 9.925 and Campbell earned her best score of the day, a 9.900. Dennis once again tied for an event title with a 9.925. One judge actually gave her a perfect 10. After a strong floor lineup, UCLA had won the meet, 196.600 to 196.325.
Up Next
Today, UCLA returns to conference competition after only a three-day break to take on the Washington Huskies. Last year, the Huskies upset UCLA for the first time ever in Pauley Pavilion and only the fourth time in program history. Geneva Thompson will be the Husky to watch, earning the event titles in all-around and bars last week in their home opener against Oregon State. She earned a 39.100 in all-around and a 9.900 on bars. Amara Cunningham, who was one of the major players in Washington’s victory last year, earned a 9.900 on floor last week, good enough for the event title. She also earned the highest Husky vault score, a 9.825.
While the Huskies are ranked 45th in the nation overall, the Bruins do not want a repeat of last year. While the overall meet score on Wednesday was slightly lower than the previous meet, UCLA is poised to continue the momentum and keep their win streak alive.
#10 UCLA Gymnastics (3-0)
Opponent:Â Washington Huskies (0-3)
When:Â 1:00 pm PT, Sunday, February 14, 2021
Where:Â Alaska Airlines Arena, Seattle, WA
TV:Â Pac-12 Networks National, Los Angeles and Washington with Jim Watson and Alisa Mowe
Live Stream: Pac-12.com and the Pac-12 Now app
Live Stats:Â Washington Side Arm Stats
Meet Notes:
UCLA
Washington
Official Preview
Go Bruins!!!
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