PHILADELPHIA - The Temple women's gymnastics team hosted its first home meet of the 2005 season Wednesday evening and suffered a 189.675-186.950 defeat to Rutgers at McGonigle Hall as the Scarlet Knights outscored the Cherry & White in each event. The Owls, however, turned-out some dazzling individual performances, capturing at least a share of first place on each apparatus.
Temple sophomore Sarah Leibowitz took first on bars with a 9.725 effort and shared top position in the floor exercise with a 9.625 score. Owl senior Erin Davis won beam with a 9.725 showing and freshman Desiree Meredith placed first on bars with a 9.725.
Temple's highest event score was compiled on floor, where the home squad posted a 47.250, falling just short of the Scarlet Knights' 47.350. Competition was also at a premium on vault, where Temple's 46.725 was slightly bettered by Rutgers' 46.800. The visitors gained distance on beam and bars, outscoring Temple 47.775-45.850 and 47.750-47.125, respectively.
RU's Nicci Bradder captured the all-around with a 38.125 total. Bradder and teammate Elizabeth Fittery posted 9.625 scores on floor to share top position in the event with Leibowitz. For the third time in as many meets, Temple (3-5) did not field an all-around competitor.
The Scarlet Knights' lowest individual score was a 9.050 , as the visitors posted just three scores on the night below 9.300.
Temple returns to action this Friday at Ursinus in a tri-meet featuring the Bears and Wisconsin-Oshkosh at 6:00 p.m. in Collegeville, Pa.
