Alabama proved unstoppable on its home floor and took its fourth National Collegiate Women's Gymnastics Championships -- and its third when hosting the meet.

The Crimson Tide edged rival Georgia, 197.575 to 197.25, in the championships April 18-20. Defending champion UCLA took third (197.150), with Utah (196.950), Nebraska (196.425) and Stanford (196.025) rounded out the top six.

The Tide's season began with injuries to some of its top performers and ended the same way. One hour before the preliminaries, star Raegan Tomasek injured her ankle and could not compete. But the Alabama squad rose to the challenge.

Andree' Pickens, who had missed last year's championships with a ruptured Achilles tendon, led the charge, posting three 9.95 scores on the night. Jeana Rice and Kristin Sterner bolstered the Alabama efforts.

"This was the perfect ending of a four-year career," Pickens said. "The team told me they weren't letting me go without a title, so I'm grateful." The 14-time all-American grabbed second in the all-around competition and won the bars title in the individual championships.

Georgia's second-place finish also was impressive. With four all-Americans limited by injury, the Bulldogs had barely qualified for the championships, finishing 0.125 ahead of Denver in the regional.

Though Georgia coach Suzanne Yoculan had said her squad was "very vulnerable" this year and that she "didn't think it would be an upset for someone to beat Georgia this year," Georgia gymnast Tayla Vexler said, "We actually like it when Suzanne doesn't expect we're going to win, because it takes the pressure off us."

Cory Fritzinger and a tenacious supporting cast rallied Georgia to its second consecutive runner-up finish.

UCLA took third behind Jamie Dantzscher, who won the all-around title and then claimed the vault and floor events. Utah's Theresa Kulikowski placed third in the all-around, but was unable to defend her beam title, grabbing bronze there instead. Last year's co-champion in the all-around, Elise Ray, won the beam title for Michigan.

TEAM RESULTS

1. Alabama, 197.575; 2. Georgia, 197.250; 3. UCLA, 197.150; 4. Utah, 196.950; 5. Nebraska, 196.425; 6. Stanford, 196.025.

INDIVIDUAL RESULTS

All-around: 1. Jamie Dantzscher, UCLA, 39.675; 2. Andree' Pickens, Alabama, 39.625; 3. Theresa Kulikowski, Utah, 39.600; 4. Elise Ray, Michigan, 39.525; 5. Calli Ryals, Michigan, 39.475; 6. (tie) Jeana Rice, Alabama, and Shannon Bowles, Utah, 39.450.

Vault: 1. Jamie Dantzscher, UCLA, 9.9565; 2. Marline Stephens, Georgia, 9.9505; 3. Andree' Pickens, Alabama, 9.9250; 4. Elise Ray, Michigan, 9.8625; 5. AJ Lamb, Nebraska, 9.8500; 6. Alexis Brion, Alabama, 9.8375.

Uneven bars: 1. Andree' Pickens, Alabama, 9.925; 2. Doni Thompson, UCLA, 9.913; 3. Onnie Wells, UCLA, 9.900; 4. Natalie Barrington, Alabama, 9.888; 5. Theresa Kulikowski, Utah, 9.863; 6. Alexis Mayday, Iowa, 9.863.

Balance beam: 1. Elise Ray, Michigan, 9.925; 2. Jeana Rice, Alabama, 9.912; 3. Kristin Sterner, Alabama, 9.900; 4. Theresa Kulikowski, Utah, 9.900; 5. Andree' Pickens, Alabama, 9.863; 6. Lise Leveille, Stanford, 9.838.

Floor exercise: 1. (tie) Jamie Dantzscher, UCLA and Nicole Arnstad, LSU, 9.950; 3. Shannon Bowles, Utah, 9.925; 4. (tie) Tayla Vexler, Georgia, and Alexis Brion, Alabama, 9.913; 6. Andree' Pickens, Alabama, 9.900.