PHILADELPHIA, Pa. – The Ursinus College gymnastics team registered a season-best score of 187.700 in this afternoon's meet at Temple, performing admirably against the likes of Division I programs William & Mary and the Owls and Division II outfits West Chester and Southern Connecticut State. The Bears recorded the best team score on the beam with a 47.450, and their mark of 47.750 on the bars was their best of the season.

William & Mary took home the team title with a 191.375, with the host Owls placing second at 191.175. They were followed by West Chester (190.975), Southern Connecticut State (188.850), and Ursinus.

Junior Jillian Casarella tied for seventh with a 9.675 on the bars, where classmate Vanessa Scalora was right behind with a 9.650. Fellow junior Lauren Chavis notched a 9.575 to tie for 10^th. Sophomores Alexandra Puryear and Amanda Palladino posted matching marks of 9.425 and landed in a tie for 12^th.

Senior Kristina Steffenhagen impressed on the beam, where her 9.625 was good enough to tie for second; one judge gave her routine a 9.700, tied with two other gymnasts for the best score of the event. Palladino tied for sixth with a 9.525. Casarella's 9.500 tied for seventh, while sophomore Katherine Norris tied for eighth with a 9.450. Sophomore Monique Brooks scored a 9.350 (9^th), and Puryear posted a 9.050 (T-14^th).

Brooks led the Bears with a 9.400 on the vault, good for 11^th overall. Sophomore Kelsey Stewart and freshman Lindsay Rush scored matching 9.375s to tie for 12^th, while Puryear and sophomore Kelly McLaughlin each got a 9.200.

Brooks tied for fourth on the floor with a tally of 9.725, the best score of the afternoon for an Ursinus athlete. Steffenhagen was tied for 11^th with a 9.475, sophomore Sydney Eckert posted a 9.350 (14^th), and Stewart recorded a 9.200 (16^th).

The Bears will head to Maryland for a meet at Towson next Saturday, February 13.