The No. 8 Arizona gymnastics team could not overcome a disastrous first rotation and lost to No. 7 UCLA 196.750-193.075 yesterday in Pauley Pavilion.

Arizona recorded three back-to-back falls on the uneven bars and posted a first-rotation score of 47.200 from which the team never recovered.

Although Arizona (1-1, 0-1 Pacific 10 Conference) posted its lowest overall score since the Cancun Gymnastics Classic Jan. 6, 2006, the Bruins (3-2, 2-1) improved on their previous season-high total, set Friday against Cal State-Fullerton and San Jose State.

UCLA posted the highest scores in all four events, sweeping the top three spots on both bars and floor.

Arizona made up some of the difference on vault, narrowly beating UCLA 48.875-48.850, but came up short in every other event. UA junior Rachelle Silberg and freshman Brittney Morgan tied for third place with UCLA’s Anna Li on vault with 9.825s.

The Wildcats posted some solid scores on floor rotation, topped by senior Jamie Holton’s fifth-place 9.800, but they were no match for UCLA, who finished with a total of 49.350 to the Wildcats’ 48.550.

Arizona’s last rotation was on balance beam, where senior Aubrey Kelly and junior Danielle Hicks finished third and fourth respectively. Yet the team total lagged behind UCLA 49.200-48-450.

Kelly scored a total of 39.000 to finish third all-around behind UCLA’s Tasha Schwikert and Li. Schwikert posted 9.950s on both beam and floor exercise and took first or second place in every event. Li, a freshman, posted career-high scores on beam, bars and floor, including a 9.950 on bars.

Arizona junior Karin Wurm and freshman Brittney Morgan came in fourth and fifth in the all-around.