Bruins record three 10s in season's final home meet
LOS ANGELES » Selena Harris sometimes needs a sensory break from the glitzy visuals and booming sounds of Pauley Pavilion that are produced by a UCLA gymnastics meet.
She sat quietly in the locker room in the company of only the three mandarin oranges she took for a snack, then emerged to score two perfect 10.0's in UCLA gymnastics' home finale on Saturday afternoon.
It boosted the Bruins to a 198.550-196.825 win over Clemson — a season-best score and third-best in program history.
“Coming to college, I had a really hard time adjusting to the sound of everything while I do my gymnastics,” Harris said. “That little second of like quiet really helps me get into the zone.”
The sophomore won the all-around with a 39.900 to tie for the second-highest all-around score for a Bruin as UCLA bounced back from a 196.625 team score in their previous meet at Arizona State.
Chae Campbell had her first competitive floor exercise performance since Jan. 27 and Margzetta Frazier made her competitive debut in the event as part of the senior day celebrations.
Campbell scored her first 10 in any event this season when she aced her floor routine with her Black Panther-themed performance. Frazier vogued her way to a 9.975 as the Bruins went for a season-best 49.775 in the event.
“We're the best floor squad in the nation,” Frazier said. “And we always have been, and we always will be.”
UCLA scored three straight 9.850s on vault from Katelyn Rosen, Campbell and Nya Reed before Harris came up with a 10. It was her third perfect score in the event this season after reaching 10 at Oregon State on Feb. 9 and at home against Utah on Feb. 19.
Paige Anastasi, a lastminute add to the lineup, closed out vault with a career-high 9.925 on her Yurchenko 1.5 to give the Bruins a 49.475-48.700 advantage after the first rotation.
“She warmed it up incredible, she one-touched it incredible,” head coach Janelle McDonald said of
Anastasi. “And so I looked at (vault coach) Kyle (Grable) and said, `Hey, I think we should put her in the sixth spot.'”
Harris recorded her second perfect score of the day and first on uneven bars this season in the next rotation as the final UCLA competitor in the event.
“It showed everyone that I'm not just a vaulter,” Harris
said. “I'm just hyped. I really want (a 10) now on beam. Or floor.”
Campbell and Frida Esparza logged 9.90 scores and Frazier hit 9.95 to help the Bruins reach a new season-high team score on bars with a 49.625.
The Bruins achieved another season-high in an event with a 49.675 team score on balance beam. Four gymnasts scored 9.925 or above and Emma Malabuyo led the group with a firstplace 9.975.
UCLA claimed the top four spots in floor exercise in the final rotation behind Campbell and Frazier's scores in addition to Harris and Reed each tallying 9.950.
“It's been so hard to not be doing floor,” Campbell said. “I love doing floor, so for that to be my first routine back meant the world and for that to be in this moment in my senior year is so special because I love this place so much.”
UCLA now heads into the postseason, starting with the Pac-12 Championships on Saturday at the Maverik Center in West Valley, Utah. The regular season has featured lineup inconsistencies, causing the Bruins to struggle at times.
Campbell and Frazier's veteran presence helped solidify UCLA's lineups on Saturday, much to the satisfaction of McDonald. Ciena Alipio's return to balance beam and Anastasi's vault performances also added to the coach's confidence.
“Having Marz and Chae out of the lineup, it does create a lack of calm and settling,” McDonald said. “And so having those veteran competitors back in the lineup, it makes everybody feel like we can attack what we do wholeheartedly.”
Harris had another silent moment after the meet when she indicated what it would take for her to be satisfied this season. She pointed to her ring finger, right where a national championship ring should be.