BERKELEY – Sophomore Cecily Turner recorded her first career hat trick but the depleted No. 6 Cal women's water polo team fell to No. 1 USC on Saturday 17-11 at Spieker Aquatics Complex.

The Bears (5-3, 0-3 MPSF) played without starters Elli Protopapas and Shea Salvino, who are each sidelined by injury, but traded goals with the Trojans (7-0, 1-0 MPSF) early on and trailed 6-4 at the end of the first quarter. USC scored the first six goals of the second quarter to take command.

"I think we let some goals in that could have been avoided with better urgency," Cal head coach Coralie Simmons said. "We need to be able to make some stops after we score. We had some great moments when we scored and then 45 seconds later we would allow an easy goal. We need to make some adjustments to better control the game."

The Bears were able to stabilize things in the second half, eventually pulling to within 13-9 early in the fourth period. Cal was able to trim the deficit to four on two other occasions in the quarter but each time USC had an answer.

Turner led the Bears with three goals while senior Claire Sonne added two. The 11 goals were the most the Trojans have allowed this season.

Protopapas has arguably been Cal's best all-around player this season. She leads the MPSF in steals per game and entered the weekend pacing the Bears with 18 points (10 goals, 8 assists).

"In some ways, not having Elli and Shea is a hit but at the same time we have talent on the bench ready to step up in play," Simmons said. "We had people stepping up into new roles and there is excitement having that opportunity."

The Bears host the Trojans again Sunday at 1 p.m.