UCLA gymnastics posts season-best score to beat Washington

SEATTLE — The sixth-ranked UCLA gymnastics team put together its best team score of the season for a 197.950-196.125 victory over Washington on Friday night. The Bruins (7-2 overall, 4-0 Big Ten) surpassed their previous best by four-tenths of a point and hit all 24 of their routines, including 14 scores of 9.9 or higher.

UCLA swept the individual events, with Chae Campbell capturing the all-around title with a season-best 39.625 and winning the vault with a season-best 9.925. Frida Esparza tied her career best with a 9.950 to win the uneven bars for the third time this season. Ciena Alipio and Emma Malabuyo tied for first on the balance beam with scores of 9.950, a new career-best mark for Alipio. Jordan Chiles and Brooklyn Moors tied for first in the floor exercise with 9.950s.

The Bruins began the meet with a season-high 49.450 on the uneven bars. All six UCLA competitors scored 9.850 or higher. Campbell led off with a strong 9.850 after hitting all of her handstands. Mika Webster-Longin followed with a career-high 9.925. Like Webster-Longin ahead of her, Malabuyo stuck her full-twisting double back dismount and scored a 9.850. Macy McGowan earned a 9.850, then Esparza turned in her meet-winning 9.950. Chiles closed the strong showing with a 9.875.

UCLA maintained its nine-tenths of a point lead after scoring 49.325 on the vault in rotation two, the third consecutive meet the Bruins have scored 49.3 or better. Campbell led the team with a near-perfect 9.925 on a huge stuck Yurchenko full. Moors also hit a season-high with a stuck 9.900, and Chiles and McGowan each contributed 9.850s. Emily Lee scored 9.800, and Webster-Longin hit another career-high with a 9.775.

The Bruins extended their lead to more than a point (148.325-147.150) after scoring a 49.575 on the floor. Each Bruin scored 9.850 or better, led by Moors and Chiles with their 9.950s. Campbell received a 9.925, Malabuyo earned a 9.900 and McGowan and Lee each scored 9.850.

UCLA closed the meet with a dazzling effort on the balance beam. All six Bruins scored 9.900 or higher. Lee led off with a 9.900, and Chiles matched it for her season-best. Campbell matched her career high with a 9.925, and Moors and Alipio hit new career-best marks with a 9.900 and 9.950, respectively. Malabuyo ended the meet with another 9.950 to bump UCLA’s beam score to 49.625, the sixth-best beam total in program history.

UP NEXT

The Bruins play host to Penn State next Friday at 8 p.m. at Pauley Pavilion.