UCLA
Boise State
Gymnastics Wins Home Opener Over Boise State
January 12, 2020 | Gymnastics
LOS ANGELES - On the strength of a show-stopping floor exercise set, No. 3 UCLA won its home opener over Boise State, 196.800-195.475. The Bruins scored a national-best 49.725 on floor exercise, as five of six gymnasts scored 9.925 or higher. Kyla Ross was the high scorer on floor with a 9.975, and she also scored her first perfect 10 of the season on the uneven bars. Ross won the all-around for the second-straight meet with a score of 39.725.
The Bruins (3-1) started the meet with a 49.300 on vault, just behind Boise State's 49.325 on uneven bars. Junior Kendal Poston led the Bruins with a meet-high 9.900, as she took home her first-ever event victory. Nia Dennis and Ross added 9.875s.
All the razzle-dazzle to kick off this meet. ??@kendalposton's standout vault performance earns a career-high 9.9 for @uclagymnastics.
— Pac-12 Network (@Pac12Network) January 12, 2020
Watch #Pac12Gym ?? https://t.co/LjQNRhFaSV pic.twitter.com/V0B1Ef59oH
UCLA took the lead in rotation two after scoring 49.375 on uneven bars to Boise State's 48.600 on vault. Ross's first-ever perfect 10 on bars at home was the highlight, along with Margzetta Frazier's second consecutive 9.950. Ross now has 20 career perfect 10s, including 10 on uneven bars.
THE BOSS IS BACK. ??@kyla_ross96 lands her first ever perfect ?? on bars in Pauley for @uclagymnastics.
— Pac-12 Network (@Pac12Network) January 12, 2020
Watch the Bruins take on beam ?? https://t.co/LjQNRhFaSV pic.twitter.com/2v4gr41WMD
The balance beam gave the Bruins some problems again, as they were hit with three scores under 9.400. Grace Glenn started the rotation with a bang, scoring a career-high 9.975 in the leadoff position. Frazier followed with a career-best 9.825, and Ross finished with a 9.875, but two falls and a routine that was not given full credit on start value dropped the Bruins to 48.400 for the event. Boise State was unable to make up any ground, as they also scored 48.400 on floor.
Incredible elegance from the senior Bruin. ??@GraceGraceglenn scores a stunning 9.975 for @uclagymnastics on beam.
— Pac-12 Network (@Pac12Network) January 13, 2020
Watch #Pac12Gym ?? https://t.co/LjQNRhFaSV pic.twitter.com/RV2NDQNmaY
UCLA hit the reset button in a big way on floor exercise in the final rotation. Dennis kicked things off with her Beyonce Homecoming-inspired routine that scored 9.925. Pauline Tratz matched Dennis with a 9.925 of her own. Freshman Chloe Lashbrooke made her competitive debut to the tune of a 9.875, and Gracie Kramer and Frazier followed with back-to-back career-high marks of 9.95s, and Ross ended it with a 9.975.
"I'm most proud of the ability of the team to come off a rough event and just turn it on on floor," said UCLA head coach Chris Waller. "I just told them, 'OK, this is our first event. The meet starts now!', and they just took it and ran with it and blew the house (down). That was the coolest thing."
The Bruins will hit the road next week for a tri-meet at BYU with Utah State. The meet will take place on Saturday, Jan. 18 at the Marriott Center in Provo, Utah and will be televised live on BYUtv.
Players Mentioned
