ASU gymnastics had not beaten UCLA gymnastics since 2001, and the streak would continue as ASU lost to UCLA 196.150 to 195.950 on Saturday afternoon.
During the first rotation, UCLA would decide to only use five gymnasts for the vault, opposed to the usual six. Despite this decision, UCLA scored a 49.200 on the vault, with senior Nia Dennis scoring UCLA's best score on the rotation, 9.900.
ASU started with one of its strongest events of the season — bars. ASU would prove they could compete with one of the premier gymnastics programs in the country.
Sophomore Hannah Scharf continued her run of form, scoring a 9.875 on bars. Senior Cairo Leonard-Baker and freshman Emily White each scored a 9.850 on bars.
ASU did not break 49.000 on the vault in either of their previous meets this year, and that streak continued with ASU's 48.975 score on vault. Scharf scored a team-best 9.875 on vault, with freshman Jada Mangahas and White each contributing a 9.800 to ASU's final score.
It was a scary start on bars for UCLA as freshman Chae Campbell fell off the bars during her routine. Despite this, Campbell still scored an 8.950. Freshman Frida Esparza scored a meet best 9.900, as UCLA scored a 48.975 on the rotation.
ASU's first four routines on floor would all receive scores under 9.700. Mangahas would then score a 9.850 and Scharf would finish strong with a 9.875 on the team's final floor exercise routine. ASU finished with a 48.725 team total on floor.
UCLA was helped to score a 49.000 on beam thanks to key performances from junior Samantha Sakti, who scored a 9.900, and junior Margzetta Frazier and Esparza each adding a 9.800 score.
Just like ASU, UCLA's first three gymnasts would score below a 9.700 on floor to begin the final rotation. But, UCLA's last three gymnasts were almost perfect. Campbell and Frazier scored a 9.900 and Dennis scored a meet-winning 9.950 on her floor exercise.
Scharf and White led the way for ASU on beam, each scoring a 9.850. ASU's beam routine was not enough to pull the meet away from UCLA as the Bruins took a 196.150 to 195.950 victory.
ASU's next meet will be against Oregon State on Jan. 29 at 5 p.m.
Reach the reporter at njpietrz@asu.edu and follow @NPietrzycki on Twitter.
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