Jordan Chiles, UCLA gymnasts fall short at NCAA Championships

In an unlikely instant, the UCLA gymnastics team found itself in an uneasy spot.Jordan Chiles, a two-time college champion in the uneven bars, fell off the bar early in her routine.Even with the Bruins able to wipe her score off the board in the semifinal round of the NCAA Championships, the blunder set an ominous tone.It also left the Bruins in fourth place after the first rotation Thursday night inside Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, Texas.After rallying to move into second place after the third rotation, UCLA bookended a forgettable night with more disappointment.Katelyn Rosen stumbled on her landing in the vault.

Mika Webster-Longin then took a few tiny steps backward on her landing.Just like that, the Bruins’ season was over.No.4 UCLA finished in third place with a 197.275 in the four-team meet, 0.1875 points behind Minnesota, which overtook the Bruins in the final rotation.The No.

13 Golden Gophers clinched their first trip to the NCAA finals in school history – becoming the lowest seed to reach that round since seeding began in 2014 – after Emma Slevin scored a 9.85 on the uneven bars.Minnesota will join No.1 Oklahoma as well as No.

2 LSU and No.3 Florida in the championship round on Saturday after the latter two teams advanced earlier in the day.“I’m still in a little disbelief,” Golden Gophers coach Jenny Hansen said in an ESPN2 interview.

“What a night.”It was one that left the Bruins in tears and filled with regrets.California's top news, sports and entertainment delivered to your inbox every day.

Please provide a valid email.By clicking above you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.

Never miss a story “Am I a little disappointed?” Chiles told the Daily Bruin.“A hundred percent, but you know what? My team fought for every single thing that they were doing.”Determined to make up for her early mistake, Chiles performed a nearly flawless routine on the balance beam during ...