STEVENSON, Md. -- Competing for the first time in two nearly two weeks, Kutztown University acrobatics & tumbling established another benchmark score in splitting Tuesday evening's tri-meet at Stevenson University. The Golden Bears defeated the host Mustangs for the second time this season, 243.280-130.500, but came up just short against Saint Leo University, 248.155-243.280.

Kutztown put up a 9.65 in the pyramid heat of the compulsory event, tying a program-best score. The Golden Bears (2-3) kept close pace with Saint Leo through the first two events and closed the gap to 3.25 at the half following a very strong showing in the pyramid event.

Karah Paull's team set high scores across the board in the pyramid with a 9.40 in the inversion heat, a 9.50 in the synchronized heat and a 9.9 in the open heat. The result was a program meet record 28.80 in the event with a combined start value of 29.70.

The Bears produced season-high scores in the synchronized and open heats of the toss before challenging themselves in the tumbling event. It was just the second meet in which KU's start values were 9.0 or above for all of its individual passes. Those individual passes yielded season-high scores as Paige Saxey (Clearfield, Utah/Clearfield) recorded an 8.850 in the aerial pass (9.100 start value), Tiffani Lincoln (Oneonta, N.Y./Oneonta) a 9.100 in the 6-element pass (9.550 start value) and Destinee Satterlee an 8.800 in the open pass (9.100 start value).

Kutztown ended the night with a program-high score of 86.780 in the team event to further its record meet score.

The Golden Bears will return to Keystone Arena to host preseason No. 15 West Liberty on Saturday, March 25, at 2 p.m.