Cal rebounds from upset USC loss by topping UCLA on the road Saturday

The #1-ranked Cal Golden Bear women were back in competition Saturday, one day after the big upset loss at USC, taking on UCLA in a women’s-only dual meet. The Lady Bears continued to show some definitely fatigue, but managed to get back into the “W” column with a 183.5-116.5 decision over the Bruins.

UCLA was coming off its own home battle with Pac-12 foe Stanford Friday night, a 180-120 loss.

The relays were a big key to Cal’s success after the Bears dropped both relays against USC. California went 1-2 in the 200 medley with a pair of 1:40s and also won the 200 free relay in 1:30.87 for giant point advantages.

Missy Franklin won a pair of events, although the Bruins pushed her hard all day, even beating the Olympian in her third race. Franklin went 1:47.16 for a relatively easy 200 free win, but had to fight off a feisty Madison White to win the 200 back (1:58.43) and then dropped the 500 free – just one event later – to UCLA’s Lauren Baker, 4:51.56 to 4:53.86.

Baker also won the 1000 free for the Bruins, going 9:54.15 to easily beat Cal’s top threat, usual breaststroker Marina Garcia, who went 10:09.24 in a unique event for her. Garcia would go on to win the 200 breast in 2:16.82 and take second in the 100 breast to teammate Yvette Kong.

UCLA also got two wins from senior Ting Quah, who has been on a winning tear as of late. Quah touched out Rachael Acker 50.07 to 50.15 to win the 100 free, then returned to nab the 100 fly 53.67 in a 1-2 punch with teammate Katie Kinnear. Kinnear was UCLA’s other swimming winner, taking the 200 fly in 1:58.65.

The teams split diving, with Cal’s Anne Kastler scoring 285.05 to win on 1-meter and UCLA’s Paulina Guzman taking 3-meter with a 312.90-point performance.

Other winners for Cal were Liz Pelton in the 100 back (54.24), Farida Osman in the 50 free (22.90) and Celina Li in the 400 IM (4:15.66). All three were 1-2 finishes for the Golden Bears.

Full results.