Riley Scott Leads USC Past UCLA

Senior Riley Scott won three events, guiding the No. 14 USC women’s swimming and diving team in a 181-117 victory over crosstown rival UCLA at the Uytengsu Aquatics Center.

Junior Louise Hansson and sophomore Marta Cisela also added two wins apiece.

After losing their last two meets to Cal and Stanford, USC rebounded to improve to 7-2, 5-2 while dropping UCLA to 8-3, 3-3.

The Trojans completely stifled the Bruins in the fly. USC swept the 200 with senior Maddie Wright earning first in 1:53.08, sophomore Caitlyn Tycz finishing in second in 1:55.62, and junior Catherine Sanchez taking third in 1:55.91. In the 100, Troy went 1-2 as Tycz took first in 52.36 and sophomore Jemma Schlicht came in second in 52.55, recording a season best in the process.

USC also handled the breaststroke with ease, just as they have all season. Scott won the 100 in 59.68 and redshirt junior Kirsten Vose took third for USC in 1:01.03, coming in behind Claire Grover’s 1:00.86 for UCLA. Later, the Trojans swept the 200, with Scott capturing first in 2:09.30 while Vose and freshman Isa Odgers took second and third in 2:11.19 and 2:11.39, respectively. Vose’s time was good for a season best and Odgers’ performance netted her a career best.

It was all cardinal and gold in the short distance freestyle races, as Hansson snagged first in the 200 in 1:44.25 just ahead of junior Tatum Wade’s 1:44.80. Cisela had an impressive day, winning the 50 in 22.15 and the 100 in 48.50. Freshman Leticia Transom finished third in the 50 22.83, good for a career best and Wade took third in the 100 in 48.78.

The Women of Troy found success in the backstroke as well. Despite UCLA’s Emma Schanz winning the 100, Transom took second in 53.67 and set her second career best in the meet while redshirt junior Hanni Leach’s 53.88 was a season best. Meanwhile, Hansson won the 200 back in 1:53.97 for her second individual victory of the day.

In the other two event wins for the Trojans, Scott took home her third win of the day in the 400 IM with a time of 4:14.06 while USC’s A and B teams went 1-2 in the 200 medley relay with times of 1:36.91 and 1:38.76, respectively.

The Bruins impressed in both long distance freestyle races and diving. Sandra Soe won the 1650 for UCLA in 16:02.88 as well as the 500 in 4:47.43 while her teammate Lisa Kaunitz took third behind USC senior Elizabeth Stinson.

Eloise Belanger won both the 1-meter and 3-meter dive for UCLA.

In the final event of the day, the Bruins’ A team won the 200 free relay, finishing ahead of the Trojans’ A and B teams.

USC’s dominant Crosstown Cup win will certainly provide valuable momentum as the team turns its attention to the Pac-12 Championships, which begin on February 27 in Federal Way, Wash.

Check out more Pac-12 coverage here.

— The above press release was posted by Swimming World in conjunction with USC. For press releases and advertising inquiries please contact Advertising@SwimmingWorld.com.

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