UCLA Women Get Pac-10 Title

UCLA’s Kristen Maloney and Tasha Schwikert tied for first place in the all-around to lead the Bruins to their 12th title in the Pacific 10 Conference women’s gymnastics championships Saturday at Haas Pavilion in Berkeley.

UCLA scored 197.1 points, to finish ahead of Arizona (195.925), Oregon State (195.9), Stanford (194.600), Washington (194.425), Arizona State (192.975) and California (163.55).

Maloney and Schwikert each had all-around scores of 39.7.

Maloney also won the vault (9.925), beam (9.95, tied with Arizona State’s Ashley Kelly) and floor exercise (9.975).

Schwikert won the uneven bars with a perfect 10.

UCLA began the meet on the vault and posted a 49.3 to take an early lead.

Stanford earned a score of 48.875 on beam to secure second place after one rotation, followed by Washington (48.6) and Arizona State (48.375).

Oregon State vaulted well in the second rotation, scoring a 49.25 to move into second place only five-tenths behind the Bruins, but UCLA scored a 49.275, led by Schwikert’s 10, her second of the season on bars.

UCLA moved to the balance beam with more than a one-point lead over Stanford and finished with three scores of 9.9 or higher for a team score of 49.375.

With the Bruins on a bye in the fifth rotation, Oregon State made a big move on the balance beam, scoring 49.35, thanks to five scores of 9.825 or higher. The Beavers’ beam score moved them to within 0.375 of UCLA’s lead, at 147.95 to 147.575.

The Bruins ended their competition on the floor exercise and scored a 49.15, with three scores of 9.9 or higher.

Oregon State entered the final rotation needing to score 49.525 on the floor to tie UCLA for first place but fell short and dropped into third place. Arizona finished well on balance beam, scoring 49.35 to vault into second place.

Maloney was chosen Pac-10 gymnast of the year, and Schwikert was chosen Pac-10 freshman of the year. Coach of the year went to Oregon State’s Tonya Chaplin.