HOPING FOR ROUTINE END BRUINS SEEK 3RD TITLE IN A ROW.

Byline: Jill Painter Staff Writer

UCLA's gymnastics team had some shaky outings and blemished routines early in the season, uncharacteristic for a team that had won the past two NCAA women's championships.

Inconsistencies were understandable, with veterans Kristen Maloney and Kate Richardson carrying a team with three freshmen and four sophomores.

But with the NCAA Championships starting today at Auburn, second-ranked UCLA has a strong chance to win its third consecutive title.

Faces have changed, but UCLA's talent level hasn't. The Bruins (20-3), who have won four of the past five national titles, can become just the second team to win three in a row. Utah won five in succession from 1982 to `86.

``It's been a different year,'' UCLA coach Valorie Kondos Field said. ``It's definitely a new era than the last few years. But it's exciting. All of these athletes jumped on board and said, 'Lead us.' They looked to Maloney and Kate for leadership.

``We've relied heavily on freshmen this year. I'm so happy for them. I'm so happy for this team.''

Freshman Tasha Schwikert has been pivotal. Schwikert, a member of the 2000 Olympic team and an alternate for the 2004 Games, won the all-around title at the U.S. Nationals in 2001 and 2002 and was a member of the U.S. team that won its first world championship in 2003.

The all-around competition at most UCLA meets becomes a two-gymnast contest between Schwikert and Maloney. Schwikert won the all-around at the NCAA West Regionals two weeks ago and tied for first on uneven bars, vault and floor exercise. Maloney won the balance beam and tied with Schwikert on vault and floor.

``It's a great feeling to help UCLA win again,'' Schwikert said. ``This is so much fun. I was elite, and that was tough but very fulfilling. We worked so hard there that sometimes you got burned out.

``We work out less hours, but we're very efficient. Schools's a priority. Competing every weekend has made me more consistent. If I ever want to go back to elite, that would help me.''

Schwikert's sister, Jordan, is a valuable freshman, too.

Maloney, a fifth-year senior, couldn't be happier she's challenged by newcomers. She's even spiced up her floor routine, adding a triple twist on her last pass, something no other collegiate gymnast does.

Maloney will be finished after this meet, but it's the beginning for the Schwikert sisters and the rest of these Bruins.

``Everyone from my class was gone, and it was weird for me to be here without them,'' Maloney said. ``We have so many freshmen competing, and we've had our ups and downs. Last year we were always good. But we're getting confident, and we're getting more consistent every meet. I knew it would happen, I just didn't know when.''

--Notes: Maloney sprained her right ankle in practice Friday at UCLA, when she was adding a front flip to her final pass with the triple twist. Maloney is expected to be OK and will compete in the all-around competition, along with Tasha Schwikert. ... Christie Tedmon tore the meniscus in her left knee in the West Regionals. She is expected to compete on the balance beam but not the floor exercise.

Jill Painter, [phone]

jill.painter(at)dailynews.com

NCAA GYMNASTICS CHAMPIONSHIPS

When: Today through Saturday.

Where: Auburn University, Auburn, Ala.

Schedule: Today, 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. (team preliminaries); Friday, 5 p.m. (team finals); Saturday, 5 p.m. (individual finals).

Teams: Alabama, Florida, BYU, Utah, UCLA, Iowa State, Georgia, LSU, Michigan, Penn State, Oklahoma and Nebraska.

Notable: UCLA has won the past two titles and four of the past five.

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NCAA GYMNASTICS CHAMPIONSHIPS (see text)