The UCLA Bruins flipped, leapt and swung their way to their fourth National Collegiate Women's Gymnastics Championships team title in seven years. Their 197.825 total was the third-highest in championships history, behind only a 198.025 by Alabama in 1996 and a 198.000 by Georgia in 1993.

Alabama was not far behind with its runner-up 197.275, while Georgia edged the hosts from Nebraska for third place with a 197.150. The Cornhuskers took fourth with a 197.125, with Michigan (196.050) and Utah (195.300) placing fifth and sixth, respectively.

UCLA made it clear from the first event that it intended to win the title that Alabama had wrested from the Bruins last year. The Bruins posted a 49.350 on vault to claim the lead after the first rotation. UCLA never looked back, adding momentum with a 49.450 on bars and a spectacular 49.525 beam performance.

"I had a nice long talk with myself this morning, and I just had such confidence in these people, not just as athletes, but also their integrity as people," said UCLA coach Valerie Kondos Field. "All I asked was that we did the best job we could, and that's what we did. We had some falls out there, but the team never lost its focus."

Only Nebraska produced a higher event score than the Bruins, cranking out a 49.550 on the vault, the highest event score of the championships. The Cornhuskers added the second-best event scores of the night on beam (49.400) and floor exercise (49.375), but it was not enough to overcome a disastrous uneven bars routine that forced Nebraska to count a fall en route to a 48.800 team score.

Nebraska's let-down on bars allowed Alabama to move to the No. 2 spot in the team standings. The Crimson Tide posted eight scores of 9.900 or above, including a 9.950 from Ashley Miles on the floor. Jeana Rice added 9.900 efforts on vault and beam, while Kristin Sterner pitched in two 9.900s of her own on bars and beam.

Georgia's third-place effort was led by outstanding individual performances from Chelsa Byrd with a 9.950 on vault, a 9.925 on bars and a 9.900 on floor, while Kinsey Rowe added a pair of 9.900 efforts on bars and beam.

UCLA's Jamie Dantzscher was unable to defend her 2002 all-around title. Nebraska's Richelle Simpson emerged as the winner in that event, while Dantzscher took second and Nebraska's A.J. Lamb finished third.

In the other individual event championships, Simpson won the vault and tied with Dantzscher on bars for a share of the title. Dantzscher took the floor championship, too. Her teammate, Kate Richardson, won the balance-beam competition for a total of three of four event titles for the Bruins.

"These are just phenomenal human beings, and I am blessed to be their coach," Kondos Field said. "On paper, this is the most talented team ever assembled in collegiate gymnastics. We have had some very talented teams, but the depth of talent and depth of character that this team had, no team has ever matched that."

Regionals

Southeast -- 1. Georgia, 197.125; 2. Florida, 194.925; 3. North Carolina, 194.900; 4. Maryland, 193.825; 5. Ohio St., 193.650; 6. North Carolina St., 193.525. (Georgia and Florida advance.)

Central -- 1. Alabama, 197.550; 2. (tie) Auburn and Central Michigan, 196.350; 4. Oklahoma, 196.300; 5. Michigan St., 194.650; 6. Kent St., 193.950. (Alabama and Auburn advance.)

Northeast -- 1. Michigan, 196.825; 2. Arizona St., 196.725; 3. Iowa St., 196.525; 4. Penn St., 196.175; 5. New Hampshire, 195.400; 6. Pittsburgh, 194.500. (Michigan and Arizona St. advance.)

South Central -- 1. UCLA, 197.700; 2. Iowa, 195.875; 3. Oregon St., 195.850; 4. Arizona, 195.450; 5. Missouri, 194.825; 6. Ill.-Chicago, 193.200. (UCLA and Iowa advance.)

North Central -- 1. Utah, 196.975; 2. Stanford, 196.625; 3. Denver, 195.350; 4. California, 195.025; 5. Minnesota, 193.125; 6. Brigham Young, 192.400. (Utah and Stanford advance.)

West -- 1. Nebraska, 196.650; 2. LSU, 195.700; 3. Washington, 195.675; 4. Cal St. Fullerton, 193.175; 5. Boise St., 192.875; 6. San Jose St., 192.875. (Nebraska and LSU advance.)

Championships team results

1. UCLA, 197.825; 2. Alabama, 197.275; 3. Georgia, 197.150; 4. Nebraska, 197.125; 5. Michigan, 196.050; 6. Utah, 195.300.

Championships individual results

All-around: 1. Richelle Simpson, Nebraska, 39.800; 2. Jamie Dantzscher, UCLA, 39.725; 3. A.J. Lamb, Nebraska, 39.675; 4. (tie) Jeana Rice, Alabama; and Onnie Willis, UCLA, 39.550; 6. Calli Ryals, Michigan, 39.500.

Vault: 1. Richelle Simpson, Nebraska, 9.9750; 2. (tie) A.J. Lamb, Nebraska; Chelsa Byrd, Georgia; and Annabeth Eberle, Utah, 9.9500; 5. (tie) Gina Bruce, Nebraska; Ashley Miles, Alabama; Jeana Rice, Alabama; Jami Dantzscher, UCLA; and Kate Richardson, UCLA, 9.900.

Uneven bars: 1. (tie) Richelle Simpson, Nebraska; and Jamie Dantzscher, UCLA, 9.950; 3. (tie) Calli Ryals, Michigan; Chelsa Byrd, Georgia; and Jeanette Antolin, UCLA, 9.925; 6. (tie) Julie Houk, Nebraska; A.J. Lamb, Nebraska; Jenny Deiley, Michigan; Kinsey Rowe, Georgia; Mari Bayer, Alabama; Kristin Sterner, Alabama; Larissa Stewart, Alabama; and Yvonne Tousek, UCLA, 9.900.

Balance beam: 1. Kate Richardson, UCLA, 9.950; 2. (tie) Richelle Simpson, Nebraska; and Onnie Willis, UCLA, 9.925; 4. (tie) A.J. Lamb, Nebraska; Kinsey Rowe, Georgia; Jeana Rice, Alabama; Kristin Sterner, Alabama; Jamie Dantzscher, UCLA; and Yvonne Tousek, UCLA, 9.900.

Floor exercise: 1. Jamie Dantzscher, UCLA, 9.975; 2. (tie) Richelle Simpson, Nebraska; and Ashley Miles, Alabama, 9.950; 4. A.J. Lamb, Nebraska, 9.925; 5. (tie) Calli Ryals, Michigan; Chelsa Byrd, Georgia; Malia Jones, UCLA; and Onnie Willis, UCLA, 9.900.