Senior tri-captain Karen Cimochowski had never performed a routine with a difficult "D" rating before. But on Saturday, the Lady Lion gymnast attempted the Jaeger, a release move on the uneven bars where the gymnast lets go of the bar, flips in a tuck position and recatches the bar.

Cimochowski struggled and fell twice, but the Lady Lions still managed to crack the Buckeyes.

Senior tri-captain Tracy Kerner and freshman Liz Agnew performed well in Columbus, Ohio, giving Penn State (3-1, 2-0 Big Ten) a 192.875-188.300 victory over Ohio State (3-3, 1-1).

Kerner's night was especially impressive. She turned in a 9.85 on the uneven bars, a 9.825 on the balance beam, and a 9.875 on the floor exercise -- placing first in all three events.

"I was happy," Kerner said. "I just tried to make it as much like practice."

Agnew was also impressive. She won the all-around by placing in a tie for fourth on vault (9.575), fourth on bars (9.45), third on beam (9.7), and fifth on floor (9.575), giving her a final score of 38.3.

"It felt good," Agnew said. "(The coaches) gave me the opportunity and I didn't want to let anyone down."

Neither did senior tri-captain Kerry Slattery, who performed well on the bars (9.475), beam (9.625) and floor (9.6).

"She did great," Assistant Coach Jessica Bastardi said. "She hit all three of her events."

Freshman Joanna Knox -- who won the all-around in her previous two meets -- had a strong showing, competing on the beam (9.8), floor (9.8) and vault (9.675).

Junior Bridget Foley was also sharp on the beam (9.675), but struggled on the floor (9.15) and bars (9.05). But she said this meet will have no negative effects in the future.

"I'm just going to have to put this behind me and go all out," she said.

The beam -- which has been a hex to the Lady Lions in the past -- was the team's best routine on Saturday (48.675 team total).

"We did a lot of beam plans where we raised our standards," Bastardi said.