No. 14 Women of Troy to Host Crosstown Showdown Against No. 22 UCLA Swim & Dive on Friday

LOS ANGELES – The No. 14 ranked USC women's swimming and diving squad is back in action for their final dual of the season this Friday, Jan. 31, as the Trojans host crosstown rival No. 22 UCLA for a noon dual at the Uytengsu Aquatics Center. Friday's meet is USC's first and only Big Ten dual of the season.

USC's diving contingent will compete against UCLA in the springboard events on Friday (points will count towards final dual score) and platform diving event on Saturday at 10 a.m. PT,

Friday marks senior day for nine Women of Troy – swimmers Genevieve Sasseville, Nisha Kijkanakorn, Alice Waldow, Vasilissa Buinaia, Kaitlyn Dobler, Caroline Famous, Ella Ristic, Marlene Kahler and diver Grace Lee will be honored on deck prior to the start of the meet.

This weekend also marks the final home competition for the Trojans as they'll soon turn their attention to the postseason for the upcoming 2025 Big Ten Women's Swimming and Diving Championships in Columbus, Ohio. The meet will run Wed., Feb. 19 through Sat., Feb. 22.

#14 USC vs. #22 UCLA
Friday, Jan. 31
12 p.m. PT | Uytengsu Aquatics Center | Los Angeles, Calif.
Live Stream – B1G+
Live Results – Meet Mobile App

SO FAR THIS SEASON:
USC's women's squad is 2-2 this season. During the October home opener, the Women of Troy defeated Hawaii 226-81 at the Trojan Swimming Invitational. The Women of Troy grabbed first in all four relays, while Troy claimed three out of four relays (400y medley relay, 200y free relay and 200y medley relay). USC also won a combined 12 individual events at the invite.

In early November, the Trojans beat former Pac-12 rival Arizona in an additional home dual. Sophomore All-American and Olympian Minna Abraham posted the fastest time in the country (at that point in the season) in the 200y freestyle, claiming the event in 1:42.01 for an NCAA A-cut.

USC closed out fall competition at the Texas Hall of Fame Invitational, a meet that saw 14 Trojans record personal bests (24.17 seconds total dropped).

Most recently, USC dropped a pair of road duals, falling to No. 10 Cal and No. 3 Stanford. Against the Bears, Claire Tuggle (1000y freestyle), Kaitlyn Dobler (100y breast and 200y breast) and Justina Kozan (500y free) all posted individual event wins. A day later, the Women of Troy had strong performances in both the 1000y freestyle and the 50y freestyle.

USC's top times from this season, including those with automatic and provisional NCAA cuts can be found here.

USC-UCLA Series
The Trojans hold a 32-17-1 edge against the Bruins … USC secured 10 victories in a row from 2008-17 against the Bruins and posted the first tie in the series in 2018. The 10-meet win streak - matched USC's previous best stretch of 10 in a row from 1994 to 2003 … Last year, USC downed UCLA to wrap up the regular season undefeated (9-0 in duals). The Women of Troy swept both the relays, and the springboard diving events, while senior Caroline Famous set a pool record in the 100y backstroke … In 2023, the Women of Troy defeated the Bruins 152-148 at the Uytengsu Aquatics Center...In 2022, USC won 15 events and set eight pool records competing at the Spieker Aquatics Center, defeating the Bruins on their home turf … In 2021, the Trojans suffered a loss to the Bruins, snapping a 13-meet unbeaten streak against UCLA … In 2020, USC downed the Bruins 181-119 where the Women of Troy claimed 11 races and swept the sprint free events … In 2019 USC experienced a 181-117 victory at home, winning ten events including one relay … The schools tied 150-150 at UCLA in 2018. USC won seven events, but UCLA caught USC over the final two events to end Troy's 10-meet run … The Trojans' win in 2017 was a 172-128 home victory in which Troy set six pool records and five meet records. Preceding that was a 181-119 victory at UCLA in 2016 and a 174.5-125.5 home win in 2015 that featured five USC swimmers winning two events apiece. In 2014 in Westwood, USC won 165-135, breaking 10 Spieker Aquatics Center pool records and nine meet records in the process. USC defeated UCLA, 167.5-132.5, at USC in 2013. Troy won the 2012 clash in Westwood, 170-130, in a meet in which Trojan swimmers also broke a combined 10 Bruin pool records. That followed a 176-124 victory at USC in 2011, a 164.5-136.5 win at UCLA in 2010, a 160-140 rain-soaked 2009 home win and a 158-142 decision in Westwood in 2008. UCLA last won in 2007 when the Bruins clinched victory during the meet's final relay at McDonald's Swim Stadium. USC hasn't lost to UCLA in Westwood since 2004.

Crosstown Cup
The winner of the USC-UCLA dual meet scores 10 points toward the Crosstown Cup, awarded annually to the school with the most successful athletic year against the other. Points are awarded to the winner of each Trojan-Bruin head-to-head contest (100 points is the magic number).

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Minna Abraham

Vasilissa Buinaia

Kaitlyn Dobler

Caroline Famous

Marlene Kahler

Nisha Kijkanakorn

Justina Kozan

Grace Lee

Ella Ristic

Genevieve Sasseville

Claire Tuggle

Alice Waldow