BERKELEY – A program-record balance beam rotation, the second-highest vault score in school history and a perfect 24-for-24 outing charged California women's gymnastics to its third-highest total in school history Saturday afternoon in Haas Pavilion. The Golden Bears put up a 197.225 to finish behind fourth-ranked UCLA's 197.750, but far exceeded their season-best totals nearly across the board in front of a roaring crowd of more than 2,000 gymnastics fans.
 
"It was an amazing afternoon. First of all, I just want to thank everyone who came out," said head coach Justin Howell. "Everyone was feeling it… the fans really controlled the meet. They really bring the energy that these girls feed off of, and that was so evident from start to finish."
 
Cal's 197.225 was only the fourth 197.0 or better in school history, and topped the team's previous season-high of 195.950 by more than a full point. The Bears also matched the program-record 49.350 beam total, and tallied a 49.400 on vault for the second-highest score on the event in school history. On bars, an event that plagued the team in the first few meets of the season, Cal used a 6-for-6 showing to tally a season-high 49.250.
 
"From the minute we started competing, I really just took a step back as a coach and I watched their performances and I enjoyed them. I wasn't nervous," Howell added. "I had 100 percent confidence because of what they've been doing in the gym. They were really showing their passion for what they were doing."
 
Toni-Ann Williams won the all-around with a 39.600, logging the fifth-highest all-around total in school history, and she also claimed a share of the floor title with a 9.90.
 
"Toni was outstanding and she always is. It's so impressive to see her be able to do that week-in and week-out. Like so many gymnasts, she deals with aches and pains but she comes out here with a bright smile on her face and kills it," Howell said.
 
The Bears saw season or career-high performances in 13 of their 24 routines.
 
California exploded with a booming start to the meet, racking up six scores no lower than 9.825 to combine for the program's second-highest vault total in history. Cal's 49.400 was highlighted with career highs by Kyana George (9.90), Cassidy Keelen (9.85) and Rachael Mastrangelo (9.825). Williams anchored vault with a season-high 9.925.
 
"Our entire vault lineup just crushed it tonight. We've been working on our landings so much and it was great to see that pay off," Howell said.
 
The Bears rolled on to bars, where for the second week in a row the lineup hit 6-for-6 after struggling with the event early in the season. Not only did everyone hit, but no gymnast in the lineup scored lower than a 9.825. The momentum grew from the start as Sofie Seilnacht led off with a season-high. 9.85 before Yuleen Sternberg (9.825) and Williams (9.85) followed with season-highs of their own. Alma Kuc, who won bars at BYU, added a career-best 9.90. Cal finished with a season-high 49.250 on the event.
 
Halfway through the meet, the Bears had no trouble keeping up with the Bruins as UCLA led 98.950-98.650.
 
Beam featured yet another season-best performance for the Bears, and one that also matched the program's best outing in school history. Cal tied its record with a 49.350, led by career-highs from Williams, Sofie Seilnacht and Keelen. Williams matched her personal-best 9.925, and Sofie Seilnacht put up a new career-high with her 9.90. Keelen, who has set career-highs in each of her last two meets, tallied a 9.85. Chelsea Shu added a season-best 9.825.
 
Entering the final rotation, Cal needed just a 49.0 to reach the 197.0 total – a mark the Bears had reached only three times in school history. That mark was easily surpassed with another 6-for-6 rotation. Arianna Robinson, at second in the lineup, registered a season-high 9.875. The Bears were once again anchored on the event by Williams, ranked 21st in the country on floor entering the meet. She delivered with a 9.90 to share the floor title with UCLA's Napualani Hall.
 
"Records are amazing and it's fun to have those stats, but what's more important to me is that they did their job. That's what makes me the most proud. After the season that we have had, starting out, and really working on our mental game, staying anchored the whole meet – that's what I'm most proud of," Howell said.
 
"We tell our team that if they do their job and they stay mentally anchored and physically prepared, the performances, the records and the accolades are all going to come. That's where we've put our focus: to doing the job that we all know we can do," Howell added.
 
Cal will stay in the Bay Area next week to continue a seven-meet Northern California homestand, heading to Stanford on Saturday, Feb. 17. Meet time is set for 7:30 p.m. and the action airs live on Pac-12 Networks.