UCLA
Oklahoma
UCLA, Oklahoma Gymnasts Give Super Showcase
February 04, 2018 | Gymnastics
LOS ANGELES - No. 4 UCLA set another season-high, scoring 197.950, but it wasn't enough to defeat No. 1 Oklahoma, who won by one-tenth of a point with a score of 198.050.
The two teams combined for six perfect 10s, including four in a row between the two teams. UCLA sophomore Felicia Hano kicked it off with the first perfect 10 in her career, on floor exercise. As the Pauley Pavilion crowd of 9,611 roared for the perfect score, Oklahoma's Anastasia Webb was on balance beam doing a perfect routine of her own, also the first of her career. UCLA junior Katelyn Ohashi moonwalked her way to her first 10.0 on floor exercise and her third career perfect 10. Oklahoma answered with a 10.0 from Maggie Nichols on balance beam that clinched the win for the Sooners.
Also scoring 10.0s were UCLA senior Christine Peng-Peng Lee, who earned her second consecutive 10 on beam and the fifth 10 of her career, and Oklahoma's Brenna Dowell on vault.
????????????@UCLAGymnastics scored a trio of perfect scores in Sunday's matchup with top-ranked Oklahoma. #Pac12Gym pic.twitter.com/q1SWmw9b4f
— Pac-12 Network (@Pac12Network) February 4, 2018
The two teams came together at the end of the meet to pay tribute to survivors of sexual abuse, including Nichols, UCLA volunteer assistant coach Jordyn Wieber and three UCLA gymnastics alumnae. Both teams wore teal ribbons in their hair, and Pauley Pavilion was decked out with teal pom poms.
#TogetherWeRise
— Pac-12 Network (@Pac12Network) February 4, 2018
Following today's meet, @UCLAGymnastics and @OU_WGymnastics joined forces to celebrate the strength of all the women and their supporters in elite gymnastics. #Pac12Gym pic.twitter.com/JbJD3NLSz4
The meet was a back-and-forth affair, with UCLA taking the lead in the first rotation, 49.5-49.475, thanks to a season-high total on vault. Nia Dennis and Napualani Hall each earned a perfect mark from one of the two judges on their vaults, with Dennis finishing with a career-high 9.925 on her 9.95-valued Yurchenko layout full. Hall earned a perfect 10 from one judge and a 9.9 from the other on her stuck Yurchenko 1.5, for a final score of 9.95, a new career-high.
Oklahoma took the lead after the second rotation after scoring 49.575 on vault, led by Dowell's 10. The Bruins scored 49.25 on bars, led by Kyla Ross' 9.925 and Lee's 9.9.
The Bruins pulled even in the third rotation thanks to a 49.525 on beam, while Oklahoma had two out-of-bounds deductions on floor and scored 49.225. UCLA junior Brielle Nguyen led off with a career-high-tying 9.9, and Ohashi added a 9.925. Lee's perfect 10 to close set up a dramatic final rotation.
Oklahoma's first two competitors on beam scored 9.95 and 9.975, respectively, while the Bruins' first three floor workers - Gracie Kramer, Dennis and Ross - each scored 9.875. Hano and Ohashi's perfect 10s put the pressure back on Oklahoma, but the Sooners closed with perfect 10s from Webb and Nichols to hand UCLA its first loss of the season.
Nichols won the all-around with a national-best 39.9. Ross was second with a 39.55, followed by Ohashi, who scored 38.775.
Players Mentioned
