With a number of key races and points decided by mere hundredths, the #13 Wildcat women snuck by the #21 Bruins 155 to 145 at the Spieker Aquatics Center. Arizona took ten of sixteen events, with both Wildcats and Bruins alike bringing home NCAA B cuts in the Pac-12 showdown.
The meet kicked off with a tight race in the 400 Medley Relay, as Arizona’s A team (3:41.85) out-touched UCLA’s A team (3:41.86) by just one one-hundredth of a second.
Arizona continued its winning streak for the next five events. Wildcat sophomore Tjsa Oder took the 1000 Free (9:47.39) ahead of UCLA’s Katy Campbell (9:54.68). Arizona’s Taylor Schick (1:48.94) touched ahead of UCLA senior Monica Dornick (1:50.06). Dornick was followed closely by Wildcat junior Katja Hajdinjak (1:50.99).
Wildcat junior Bonnie Brandon followed her contribution to the winning 400 Medley Relay with a win in the 100 Back (54.72), claiming an NCAA B cut in the process. UCLA sophomore Madison White (55.26) and junior Katie Kinnear (55.81) finished second and third, respectively.
Wildcat junior Emma Schoettmer dropped an NCAA B cut with a win in the 100 Breast (1:02.12) ahead of UCLA junior Allison Wine (1:02.62). Arizona’s Sara Borendame was third in 1:03.32.
Arizona senior Elizabeth Pepper touched first in the 200 Fly (1:59.79) in a tight finish ahead of Bruin senior Noelle Tarazona (1:59.87) by just eight one-hundredths of a second. UCLA freshman Anna Quinn took third (2:01.92) ahead of teammate Arlyn Upshaw (2:03.18).
Bruin sophomore Linnea Mack changed the tide for UCLA with a win in the 50 Free (23.15) ahead of Wildcat junior Taylor Schick (23.28). UCLA’s Monica Dornick followed up for third in 23.51.
UCLA diver Maria Polyakova kept the Bruin momentum rolling with a first-place finish in the 3-meter platform (333.75). She scored ahead of an Arizona 2-3-4 charge led by Michal Bower (288.75) and followed up by Samantha Pickens (287.75) and Sally Hackett (286.95) respectively, all separated by just two points.
Arizona’s Bonnie Brandon took her second individual event win of the meet with a win in the 100 Free (50.32) ahead of a 2-3 UCLA finish by sophomore Linnea Mack (50.49) and senior Monica Dornick (50.71).
Bruin sophomore Madison White swam to an NCAA B cut with her win in the 200 Back (1:58.98). Arizona freshman Cameron McHugh was second in 2:01.53, and UCLA’s Katie Kinnear was close behind for third in 2:01.73.
Wildcat junior Emma Schoettmer picked up her second win and second NCAA B cut of the meet in the 200 Breast (2:15.45). UCLA sophomore Jessica Khojasteh was second with a 2:17.46.
Bruin junior Katy Campbell (4:46.76) took home a win in the 500 Free and an NCAA B cut in addition. She was over three seconds ahead of second-place finisher Tjasa Oder (4:50.31), who was over eight seconds ahead of third-place UCLA senior Ally Loper (4:58.38).
Campbell‘s teammate Katie Kinnear followed with a win in the 100 Fly (54.95) ahead of teammate Katie Grover (55.14). Wildcat senior Elizabeth Pepper took third (55.58), just one one-hundredth of a second ahead of UCLA’s Noelle Tarazona (55.59).
Arizona’s Samantha Pickens scored the top spot in the 1-meter platform (319.20) ahead of UCLA’s Maria Polyakova (307.05) and her teammate Annika Lenz (275.40).
Arizona freshman Alexandra Martelle (2:04.51) out-touched Bruin junior Arlyn Upshaw (2:04.52) by just one one-hundredth of a second in the 200 IM. Wildcat senior Shannyn Hultin followed up for third in 2:05.86).
The Bruins finished off the meet with a win in the 200 Free relay (1:37.47), just ahead of the Wildcat A team (1:32.73).
Click here for full meet results.