While sitting at the press conference podium, Margzetta Frazier turned to her left and grinned at sophomore Brooklyn Moors, recalling something her teammate had said before their meet.

“She said, ‘I got your back Marz,’” the redshirt senior said.

Frazier’s career-high 9.900 on vault helped lead No. 4 UCLA gymnastics to a first-place finish in the semifinal of the NCAA Los Angeles Regional on Thursday night. Frazier – who landed short on the final pass of her floor routine – received treatment heading into the third rotation of the day.

Despite admitting she has suffered from “crippling anxiety” during every meet this season, Frazier was first up on vault – the Bruins’ lowest-scoring event of the season – and also the first for UCLA to stick her landing on the apparatus Thursday night.

Frazier emphasized that her teammates have guided her through difficult moments during the 2023 campaign.

“It just makes me feel so happy that they trust me and that I trust them,” Frazier said.

Moors had another teammate’s back on Thursday night.

The Canadian – who had been out with an injury since before the preseason “Meet the Bruins” meet – was an alternate on floor and not originally scheduled to take the stage with her “Euphoria”-themed routine. Although, she was already slated to make her 2023 competitive debut on vault.

However, a last-minute switch moved Moors into the floor rotation in place of sophomore Emma Malabuyo, setting up the Olympian for her first competitive routine of the year.

Moors stepped up and scored a 9.925, tied for the best score of her collegiate career. Coach Janelle McDonald said Moors’ return was a meet highlight, while the season debutant said her return to competition felt great.

“I’ve been supporting the team as much as I can on the sidelines,” Moors said. “It felt really good to get to do it today on the floor.”

Later in the meet, Moors stuck her handspring front pike 1/2 on vault for a career-high 9.900. Along with Frazier’s aforementioned career-high 9.900 of her own, the Bruin duo set up UCLA to finish with a season-high 49.575 on the apparatus.

McDonald said she was proud of Moors jumping into the lineups for the first time since she became UCLA’s coach.

“It was really special to see Brooklyn out there,” McDonald said. “She’s just been so close. With our season going on and everybody in the lineup competing so confidently, it’s hard to make those swaps. But Brooklyn didn’t let that deter her. She worked really hard for this moment.”

After leading their night session pack by 0.875 on Thursday night, the Bruins – along with second-place Missouri – will now turn to the weekend and face off with two new challengers.

UCLA advanced to the final of its regional and will compete against No. 5 Utah, No. 14 Missouri and Washington on Saturday night. The top two finishers will head to the NCAA championships.

When asked about recreating their season-high-tying 198.275 score on Saturday, Frazier responded.

“You should never try and recreate (a meet),” Frazier said.

McDonald quickly added to her athlete’s proclamation.

“It’s a new opportunity,” McDonald said.

The Bruins will return to action Saturday at 5 p.m. at Pauley Pavilion for the final of the NCAA Los Angeles Regional.