UCLA Adds More Titles

UCLA freshman Kate Richardson accomplished her goal of winning the balance beam title Saturday night in the NCAA Women’s Gymnastics Championships.

But she said sharing the uneven bars title with teammate Jamie Dantzscher was a bit of a surprise.

“More icing on the cake,” Richardson said. “I wanted to redeem myself for making mistakes on the bars last night.”

Richelle Simpson of Nebraska won the floor exercise and Ashley Miles of Alabama took the vault.

With the pressure of the team competition out of the way, Richardson said she could let loose in the individual events.

She scored a 9.938 on the beam to defeat Simpson, who was runner-up at 9.925.

On the bars, Richardson earned a 9.900, a score Dantzscher matched a few minutes later.

Dantzscher failed to defend her championships in the floor and vault. She earned a 9.938 as the first of nine performers on the floor.

“It’s hard in gymnastics to go first,” Dantzscher said. “I did my best and hoped my score would hold, but it didn’t.”