Los Angeles, Calif. - On Super Bowl Sunday, UCLA and Kate Richardson turned
in super performances, winning a triangular meet against Arizona State
and Cal State Fullerton in Pauley Pavilion with a score of 197.55. Arizona
State was second with a 195.925 while the Titans finished third with a
191.950.
Richardson won the all-around with a score of 39.75 and earned perfect
10s on both balance beam and floor exercise. Her two 10s in the meet were
her third and fourth of the season, and she already has seven 10s in her
career.
UCLA took a slight lead after one rotation after posting a 49.1 on vault.
Jeanette Antolin led the team with a first-place score of 9.925. Arizona
State was close behind with a 48.875 on bars, followed by Cal State Fullerton
with a 48.8 on beam.
The Bruins increased their lead slightly over ASU with a team score of
49.375 on bars and a two-even total of 98.475 to ASU's 98.025. Kristen
Maloney and Richardson both posted career-high scores of 9.95 to place
first on the event, with Maloney earning a perfect 10 from one judge.
Antolin added a 9.9, and Yvonne Tousek a 9.875.
In rotation three on balance beam, UCLA gave itself a one point lead with
a stellar team mark of 49.55, tying the season high. Lori Winn started
things off with a solid 9.825. Maloney contributed a 9.925, Antolin a
9.875 and Tousek a 9.925 to set the stage for Richardson' first perfect
score of the afternoon. The defending NCAA beam champion was flawless
in recording her fourth career 10 on beam.
UCLA shined on floor exercise, recording a season-best 49.525. Jamie Williams
led off with a 9.8, followed by a 9.825 from Winn and a 9.725 from Ashley
Peckett. Tousek tumbled and danced to a career-high tying 9.95, and Antolin
earned an identical score of 9.95 with a 10.0 from one judge. Richardson
left no room for doubt on her floor routine, recording 10.0s from both
judges to end the meet.
Titans senior Sharon Snell finished 11th on vault (9.675) to lead the
way for Fullerton. Freshman Erica Ficarotta was Cal State Fullerton's
highest finisher on bars with a 9.775 to tie for seventh, freshman Brittany
Evans finished tied for fifth on beam (9.875), and senior Latoya Milburn
finished tied for eighth on floor (9.775).
Cal State Fullerton returns to action on Sunday (Feb. 8) as the Titans
hosty Sacramento State at 2 p.m. at Titan Gym.
