SEATTLE – No. 18 California posted the fourth-highest team total in program history to win a triangular meet against No. 21 Washington and Seattle Pacific Saturday evening at the Alaska Airlines Arena in Seattle. Cal turned in a 196.600, while UW finished second with a 195.325 and SPU was third with a 192.050. The Bears are now 13-2 overall and 4-2 in the Pac-12.

“We were really proud of the girls tonight. Any meet on the road is tough and Washington can be a tough place to compete,” said women's gymnastics head coach Justin Howell. “We walked into the arena tonight really focused on our team and had a lot of energy. Each weekend, we get a little closer to finding our competitive rhythm and tonight was certainly a lot closer to where we need to be.”

The Bears logged the second-highest floor score in Cal history, totaling 49.375 to match a record that had not been reached since 2001.  Cal also tallied its highest beam total of the season, and a Golden Bear gymnast claimed the crown on three of four events plus the all-around.

The Bears opened the meet on bars, scoring a 49.075 to go above 49.0 for the fourth time this season. Sophomore Amber Takara won the event by setting a career-high 9.875, and sophomore Dana Ho matched a career-high 9.85. Ho and sophomore teammate Charlie Owens shared second on the event for their 9.85s.

Although Cal's beam performances were inconsistent to start the season, the Bears have been steadily improving on the event over the past several weeks and tonight posted their highest score of the season on the beam, a 48.875. For the third consecutive week, sophomore Desiree Palomares posted her career-high 9.90 to win the event. The Bears once again drew strength from seeing sophomore Isabelle Castillo on the event. Castillo, who has been sidelined by multiple injuries and surgery over the last year and a half, finally made her competitive debut as a Bear, earning a 9.725 as the first one up. Castillo exhibitioned on beam last weekend for the first time ever.

“Isa really made the difference for us in calming us down on beam and trusting that she's going to start us off with a hit,” Howell said. “They believe that Isa's going to hit, and it's so important to know that your leadoff is going to hit and start you off strong.”

Cal's momentum built on floor, where no gymnast scored below a 9.825 and three set or matched their personal bests on the event. Ho set a career-high 9.825, and Palomares matched a career-high 9.85. Freshman Arianna Robinson set a new best with a 9.90 and finished as the runner-up behind freshman Toni-Ann Williams, who claimed her seventh floor title of the season. Williams has won seven of eight possible floor crowns and is now the No. 1 floor performer in the nation based on her season average, a 9.928.

The Bears capped off their stellar meet with a 49.275 on vault. Owens continued her strong night by matching a career-high 9.85, and sophomore Emily Richardson posted a 9.875. Williams was second on the event with a 9.90.

“The whole vault lineup continues to do their job. It was fun to end on that event because we're pretty confident on it, and after having a great floor rotation, we just knew we could go out there and have fun with it,” Howell said.

Along with her floor title, Williams also won the all-around with a 39.375. Owens was second with a 39.225.

“The work that we've put in did pay off tonight, and tonight they felt it and they know that we've still got more that we're capable of and they're going to be for hungry,” Howell said. ““The exciting part is that we haven't even come close to our peak yet. I think we're on track to peak at the right time.”

NEXT UP

Cal goes from the Evergreen State to the Grand Canyon State to meet Pac-12 foe Arizona on Saturday, Feb. 28 at 5 p.m. The meet will be televised live on the Pac-12 Networks with Brian Webber and Amanda Pflugrad on the call.

NEWS & NOTES

• Career-Bests: V: Owens (9.85, matched), Richardson (9.875); UB: Ho (9.85, matched); Takara (9.875); BB: Palomares (9.90, matched); FX: Palomares (9.85, matched), Ho (9.825), Robinson (9.90)
• Event Titles: UB: Takara; BB: Palomares; FX: Williams; AA: Williams

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