History Made For Cal Women's Gymnastics

STANFORD - The No. 2 California women's gymnastics team captured the first outright conference championship in program history with an exclamation point Sunday, posting its highest team score ever to knock off No. 22 Stanford 198.550-197.975 at Maples Pavilion.

After claiming a share of the Pac-12 title in each of the last two seasons, the Golden Bears (14-3, 7-0) polished off an unblemished conference season to set off a celebration on The Farm that will be remembered for a long time.

"To win it outright is incredibly special," Cal co-head coach Justin Howell said. "We haven't really talked about it. We really just wanted to come in here and get better, and we did that."

Two weeks after setting a new team benchmark for all-around score with a 198.400 during a victory at UCLA, Cal bettered the mark even more by setting a program record on floor exercise (49.750) and tying its all-time standard on balance beam (49.825). The Bears also tied their third-best team score ever on uneven bars (49.700).

Sophomore eMjae Frazier, the two-time reigning Pac-12 Gymnast of the Week, tied her own record she set at UCLA in the individual all-around with a 39.825. Junior Mya Lauzon registered her second perfect 10 on balance beam (third of her career) and matched her highest all-around mark ever with a 39.775 - which is tied with Frazier for second all-time at Cal.

With her performance Sunday, Frazier is now ranked No. 2 in the country in the all-around.

"What I love about eMjae is she shows up every single day bright-eyed and ready to work," Howell said. "There has never been a day where she's not trying to get better. She's obviously a phenomenally talented athlete, but she couples that with great work ethic."

Juniors Ella Cesario and Jordan Kane each recorded career-highs of 9.950 on floor and Lauzon tied her best mark with a 9.975. All of Cal's gymnasts tallied at least a 9.9 in the event.

Cesario also set a new personal benchmark in all-around with a 39.650.

The Bears close out the regular season next week with tri-meets Friday evening and Sunday afternoon at Haas Pavilion. Sunday's meet will also be Senior Day for Cal.