BERKELEY – 198 never looked so great.

The No. 3 California women's gymnastics team went over the 198 mark for the fifth time this season and first time in four meets Sunday, punching its ticket to the NCAA Championships by winning an NCAA regional for the second year in a row with a 198.275 at Haas Pavilion.

The Golden Bears recorded their highest postseason score ever in the process while also tying their fourth highest score ever in any meet.

"These meets are tight. Everybody is good," Cal co-head coach Justin Howell said. "Our overarching goal all year long has been to compete on the final night of the national championship. But we put that aside and didn't talk about it – we focused on our own gymnastics and being at our best. I'm incredibly excited and grateful to have the opportunity to compete for a national championship."

The Bears rose to as high as No. 2 in the national rankings this season, which included a breathtaking string of performances where they set the program record for team score in three straight meets. Cal went over the 198 mark four times in a row, during which they clinched the first outright regular season conference championship in program history.

Cal had been under 198 in each of the past three meets – including Friday's regional semifinal and last month's Pac-12 Championships when it finished third – but the Bears had their fans beside themselves with the show they put on Sunday, easily outdistancing Stanford's 197.575 to cruise to the regional championship.

"We took a little look in the mirror after Pac-12s and had a really productive team meeting," Howell said. "We got some really good feedback from the team and tried to implement it into our training. We wanted to figure out what was different at Pac-12s and make sure it didn't happen again."

Junior All-American Mya Lauzon became the first Cal women's gymnast ever to win the individual all-around title at a regional with a 39.750 – which is also tied for the third highest score ever in program history at a single meet. Her performance included a perfect 10 on vault – the Bears' first 10 in any event in the postseason and the first on vault in Lauzon's career.

Cal began Sunday's regional final on the balance beam and finished the first rotation tied for the lead with Denver. The Bears then put on a breathtaking performance on the floor exercise, with all six gymnasts recording a 9.8 or better – including a 9.975 by sophomore All-American eMjae Frazier.

Cal then moved on to vault where Lauzon helped the Bears record their highest postseason score ever in the event and tied for second highest at any meet in program history with a 49.500. By the time the Bears rounded out the meet on the uneven bars, the party was in full effect in Berkeley and Cal ended with a flourish with a 49.675 – once again setting a program benchmark for the postseason.

"Competing at home in a regional was an incredible feeling," Howell said. "Our fans were absolutely amazing on both nights. They've been building toward this moment just as much as we have. We really felt that tonight."

The NCAA Championships are April 18-20 at Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, Texas.