LOS ANGELES -- California scored above 49.0 on every event, including the second-highest beam total in school history, to post the team's highest away meet score of the season in Sunday's road finale at UCLA. The No. 19 Golden Bears finished with a 196.800 behind No. 4 UCLA's 197.525.

Cal turned in top-two scores of the season on three events, including a 49.325 on beam, which matches the second-best beam score in school history. The Bears set a season high on floor with a 49.275, and a 49.100 on the uneven bars matched Cal's second-highest score of the season on the event, and saw nine individual season or career-high totals.

With just two meets remaining before the Pac-12 Championships, Cal went into Sunday's meet looking to boost its Regional Qualifying Score to close in on a coveted top-four seed at the championship event, which would allow the Bears to perform in the two-session event's evening session. While the Bears were already enjoying a strong meet through three rotations, five scores of 9.85 or better on beam boosted the team to its best score on the road this season. Sofie Seilnacht led off the beam squad with a 9.875, and both Zoe Draghi and Desiree Palomares matched her total to fuel the final rotation.

Cal, ranked 17th on beam this week, has now posted two of the program's top five scores on beam this season, including last week's then-season-high 49.275 at Nebraska's Masters Classic, which ranks as the fourth-best total in school history.

Emily Richardson, who has competed in three events in every single meet for the Bears this season, and Chelsea Shu led Cal's opening bar rotation with a pair of 9.85s. Though bars has been Cal's weakest event this year, the Bears used their third 49.0 score on the event this season to start the meet off strong. After one rotation, Cal was tied with the fourth-ranked Bruins at 49.100.

The Bears continued the meet with a 49.100 on vault, led by another 9.85 from Richardson and a 9.85 by Arianna Robinson for second place on the event. Richardson matched her season-high total on the event, as did Palomares with a 9.775. Alicia Gallarzo's 9.825 marked a new season-best. Cal has scored above a 49.0 on vault in each of the last four meets.

Meanwhile, the Bruins put together a 49.500 on bars to take a 98.650-98.200 lead over the Bears that the would never relinquish.

Before Cal headed to its record-breaking beam rotation, the Bears fired up on floor, where three gymnasts set or matched new highs to combine for a season-high 49.275 on the event. For the first time in her collegiate career, Yuleen Sternberg stepped onto the floor mat and delivered a solid 9.825. Sternberg's performance once again showcased Cal's depth after the Bears lost a fourth gymnast to season-ending injury earlier this week when Sylvie Seilnacht fractured her foot after tripping on a backpack in class. Newcomer Mariah Peterson set a career-best with a 9.85, and Charlie Owens earned a season-high 9.85. Draghi and Palomares also added 9.875s on floor to share third on the event.

NEXT UP
With Cal's 196.800 score at UCLA, the Bears improved their RQS from 196.000 to 196.250 and will make a jump in this week's national rankings. With one meet remaining before the Pac-12 Championships, the Bears are currently seeded fifth in the conference and looking to overtake Washington's 196.355 RQS. Cal returns to the floor next week to host defending national champion and top-ranked Oklahoma in Haas Pavilion on Sunday at 2 p.m. live on Pac-12 Network.
 
SOCIAL MEDIA
Join Cal Women's Gymnastics in the social media realm for behind-the-scenes access to the Bears. Follow Cal on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for meet scores, practice updates, exclusive photos, videos and more. Find Cal at:
• Twitter: @CalWGym
• Facebook: Facebook.com/CalWomensGymnastics
• Instagram: @CalWGym