February 24, 1999

COLLEGE PARK, Md. - The University of Maryland women's gymnastics team is ranked No. 24 in the nation after its sixth meet of the season by GymInfo, the official NCAA rankings. They are the second highest ranked team from the East Atlantic Gymnastics League (EAGL) behind No. 12 West Virginia, a team the Terps defeated earlier in the season. It is the fourth time that the Terps have been in the top 25 this season and the first time that they have been in the top 25 since January 26 when they were ranked No. 22 in the country. Maryland is also ranked No. 7 in the nation on beam and No. 12 in the nation on vault and are the highest ranked EAGL teams in both events. The Terps are also ranked No. 4 in the Southeast Region and No. 2 in the EAGL. Maryland is also ranked No. 1 in the EAGL on vault and beam. Through six meets this season, the Terps are 11-4. In their last meet on Feb. 17 against Southeast Region rival George Washington, they scored the second best score in school history, 194.6, including season highs on vault (48.775) and floor (48.925).

Individually, several Terps are ranked in the top 25 in several events in both the Southeast Region and the EAGL. Freshman Laura Moon (Scottsdale, Ariz./Saguaro), this past week's EAGL co-gymnast of the week, is ranked No. 14 in Southeast Region for all-around, No. 12 on vault, No. 11 on beam and No. 6 on floor. In the EAGL, Moon is ranked No. 9 in the all-around competition, No. 6 on vault, No. 7 on beam and No. 1 on floor.

Freshman Gillian Cote (Fredericksburg, Va./James Monroe) is also ranked among the region and conference's elite. In the Southeast Region, Cote is ranked No. 8 for all-around, No. 17 on vault, No. 19 on bars, No. 25 on beam and No. 22 on floor. She is also ranked No. 4 for all-around in the EAGL, No. 9 on vault, No. 14 on bars, No. 18 on beam and No. 16 on floor.

Freshman Kit Johnson (Virginia Beach, Va./Salem) has competed only on vault and beam this season and the rankings prove that she has been successful. In the region, Johnson is No. 10 on vault and No. 13 on beam, while in the conference she is ranked No. 4 on vault and No. 7 on beam.

Another freshman, Lisa Mealey (Bensalem, Pa./Villa Jospeh Marie), one half of Maryland's twin sister tandem, is making strides on bars. Against George Washington, she recorded a career and team season-high 9.850 to take first place overall. This was also the fourth best score in school history. As a result, Mealey is currently ranked No. 15 in the Southeast Region and No. 12 in the EAGL on bars. The Terps next compete in two meets in three days and face four opponents in that span, including national powerhouses No. 7 Nebraska and No. 8 Arizona State.

Maryland, however, will begin the road trip on Friday, Feb. 26, when it travels to Towson, Md., to take on EAGL rival Towson University at 7:30 p.m. The Terps have compiled an all-time record of 8-34 against the Tigers and are 2-3 against them in the last five meetings. The Terps faced the Tigers four times last season and split the season series. The last time Maryland defeated the Tigers at Towson was in 1988 when the Terps won, 185.700-184.950. After facing the Tigers, the Terps will travel to Lincoln, Neb., to face No. 7 Nebraska, No. 8 Arizona State and California at 2 p.m. Against each team, the Terps have compiled records of 0-3, 0-1 and 0-1, respectively. Maryland has not faced Nebraska or Arizona State since 1990 and California since 1986.