Senior student-athlete Emma Malabuyo came up with high scores in two team events as the eighth-seeded University of California-Los Angeles Bruins grabbed their first home conference victory with a 197.200-194.750 verdict over Illinois over the weekend in the Big Ten Conference.
Competing in front of 7,647 fans at the Pauley Pavilion, the Bruins secured their fifth win in seven outings overall in the NCAA Division I standings and their second overall in the Big Ten.
The Bruins led from start to finish and earned scores of 49+ on all four events, winning three of the four event titles at stake.
The Paris Olympian Malabuyo, who is set to see action for the Philippines in the coming Southeast Asian Games, scored 9.900 in the team vault and had a season-high 9.925 in the floor routines to contribute to the Bruins’ team victory.
The Bruins finished the day with a 49.500 on floor exercise, while graduate student Chae Campbell won the all-around with a score of 39.400.
“I’m really proud of how the team did today,” said UCLA gymnastics’ head oach Janelle McDonald.
