COLLEGE SWIMMING : Four Narrow Victories Let UCLA Women Upset USC

Five races were decided by three-tenths of a second or less Saturday and the No. 6 UCLA women won four of them to upset fifth-ranked USC, 152-148, at the Trojans’ McDonald’s Swim Stadium.

It was the Bruins’ sixth consecutive victory. The Trojans have not defeated UCLA since the 1984-85 season.

In three of the tight finishes, the 100-yard backstroke, 100 freestyle and 200 breaststroke, UCLA benefited from a turnaround of 10 points, because nine points were awarded for first and only four for second.

A relay victory meant even more. For winning the 400 medley relay by only two one-hundredths of a second, UCLA picked up 11 points to four for the Trojans.

Kris Stoudt’s 54.9 butterfly leg was the difference in the relay. It gave Bruin anchor Jeanne Gibbons enough of a lead to hold off hard-charging USC anchor Lisa Dorman.

Stoudt also won the 100 freestyle (51.20) in an upset of Dorman (51.25) and won the 100 butterfly (55.54).

UCLA senior Sheri Smith won three events, the 1,650 freestyle--by 26 seconds--the 500 freestyle and the 200 butterfly.

“That was the best UCLA-USC meet in 10 years,” said UCLA Coach Cindy Gallagher, a former Bruin All-American.

“Both teams swam really well.”