STATE COLLEGE, Pa., March 14, 2003 - Senior Katie Rowland (Georgetown, Ontario) posted a perfect 10.000 on the beam en route to setting a new Penn State all-around school record as the Nittany Lion women's gymnastics team closed out their home season with a second-place finish in a quad meet with Florida, Temple and Yale. The Gators took home the team title, posting a 196.725 while Penn State recorded a 195.500. Temple finished third with a 190.800 and Yale took fourth with a 189.025.

Rowland set a school record in the all-around with a 39.775, aided by her first-ever perfect 10.000 on the beam. She broke her own all-around school record of 39.725, which she set at last year's final home meet against West Virginia on March 16, 2002. It is the second 10.000 of the year for Rowland, as she recorded a perfect mark on the vault at West Virginia on Feb. 16. She now holds school records on the vault (10.000), beam (10.000), bars (9.950) and in the all-around (39.775). Rowland was awarded the Ann Carr award for the outstanding gymnast of the meet.

As a team, Penn State posted a 49.250 on vault, 49.250 on bars, 48.125 on beam and 48.875 on floor.

On vault, the Lions posted a team score that was the second highest of the season. Freshman Meredith Hoover (Dublin, Ohio) started the team with a 9.700, and freshman Jennifer Orlando (Herndon, Va.) followed up with a 9.750. Senior Nikki Bongiovanni (Meriden, Conn.) posted a 9.850, sophomore Kate Stopper (Reinholds, Pa.) posted a 9.900 and seniors Katie McAvoy (Winnipeg, Manitoba) and Rowland each posted a 9.925.

The second rotation saw the Lions on bars, where they tied their second highest team score of the season, thanks to perfect landings by every gymnast. Junior Kelly Streicher (Colorado Springs, Colo.) and Bongiovanni each posted a 9.800. Seniors Leslie Bair (Lancaster, Pa.) and Dana Cuomo (Robbinsville, N.J.) each scored 9.825 on the event while Rowland scored a 9.875 and McAvoy tied for first place with a 9.925.

Hoover, Bair and Rowland turned in strong performances for the Lions on the beam. Bair tied a career-high on beam, scoring a 9.900, Hoover scored 9.725 and Rowland turned in a perfect 10.000 routine, the first of her career in the event. The score marks the fourth time in school history that a 10.000 has been scored on beam.

On the floor, Bair and McAvoy both scored a 9.625. Bongiovanni posted a 9.750 while Hoover turned in a strong 9.800 and Rowland scored a career-high 9.975.

The meet also marked the final home competition for seven Nittany Lion seniors, who were honored after the event. In addition to Bair, Bongiovanni, Cuomo, McAvoy and Rowland, seniors Julia Stoloski (Newtown, Pa.) and Sarah DiPasquale (Bloomsburg, Pa.) were also honored for their dedication and hard work.

Florida gymnasts Erinn Dooley, Orley Szmuch and Lindsey Miner took the next three spots in the all-around after Rowland. Dooley took the vault title and placed second on beam.

Penn State will travel to Big Ten Championships on March 29 at Illinois, beginning at 7 p.m.

For more information on the Penn State women's gymnastics team, visit www.GoPSUsports.com, the official site of Penn State Athletics.