After getting off to a slow start, the Penn gymnastics team came roaring back yesterday.
The Quakers staged a nearly flawless performance in the final three events to dramatically finish a mere six-one-hundredths of a point behind the host Temple Owls.
In what proved to be yet another intense battle between the two crosstown rivals, the Quakers rose to the challenge, and in doing so, setting a handful of personal and team records.
Junior Leah Moon tied a personal record and finished first on the beam with a season-high score of 9.75.
Sophomore Laura Duros gave the team a big boost with her near-perfect performance on the floor.
She scored a 9.9, tying a personal best set last year in the Ivy Classic.
Duros' score ranks third in the program's all-time rankings for the floor competition.
Inspired by these individual efforts, the Quakers regrouped, refocused and scored a season-high 48.725 in the floor event.
In the end, the Quakers finished with what was their third- highest score this season.
However, their 189.175 was not enough to best the Owls' total of 189.775.
The defeat at Temple marked the Quakers' fourth loss to the Owls in the last calendar year, all of which have been decided by less than a single point.
This was, however, the Quakers' first dual-meet loss of the season and the only weekday competition thus far.
Last night's showdown was also the second competition of what has been scheduled as a three-match run over an eight day period.
With this in mind, the Quakers will have to regroup quickly as they go into competition again this weekend.
The good news, however, is that the team will not have to wait long to avenge last night's loss.
At 1 p.m. this Sunday, the Quakers will face off against West Chester, Ursinus and, for the fifth time in a calendar year, Temple.
This time, however, Penn hopes to come out on top.
"Temple is a good team," Penn coach Tom Kovic said in the team press release. "But we're confident we're better."
With local bragging rights on the line, this Sunday's showdown should be another classic.
Temple 189.775, PENN 189.175
Team Event Scores
Vault: Temple 47.775, PENN 47.450
Bars: Temple 46.825, PENN 45.325
Beam: PENN 47.675, Temple 47.600
Floor: PENN 48.725, Temple 47.575
