February 26, 1999
TOWSON, Md. - Despite recording a season high on bars (48.900) and winning the vault, beam and all-around competitions, the University of Maryland women's gymnastics team could not overcome a strong Towson squad and lost to the EAGL rival by a score of 194.875-194.500. This marks the first loss by the Terps in three dual meet competitions this season. Maryland defeated Radford in the first meet of the season on Jan. 9 and defeated Southeast Region rival George Washington on Feb. 17.
Individually, the Terps were led by freshman Gillian Cote (Fredericksburg, Va./James Monroe) who won the all-around and vault competitions and tied for first place on beam. In the all-around, Cote recorded a career-high and Maryland all-time high 39.4, breaking the nine-day old record set by fellow freshman Laura Moon (Scottsdale, Ariz./Saguaro). It marks the second time this season that Cote has set the Maryland all-time high in the all-around and it also marks the third time in seven meets that she has scored a 39.1 or better in the all-around. On vault, Cote tied a career-high by scoring a 9.8, the fourth highest score in Maryland history. Cote recorded a 9.9 on beam, marking the second highest beam score in school history and the third time this season that she has scored a 9.9 or higher on beam. On floor, Cote placed second with a career-high and Maryland all-time high score of 9.9, again breaking the nine-day old record set by Moon. This is also the third highest floor score recorded in the EAGL this season. Cote also performed well on bars, finishing in a tie for third with a score of 9.8, the second highest score of her career.
Moon also continued her outstanding performance this season as she finished in third place in the all-around competition with a 39.250, the second highest score of her career. Included in this were superb showings in each event. On beam, Moon tied with teammate Cote for first place with a score of 9.9, tying a career-high and marking the second highest beam score in school history. Moon's score of 9.825 on bars earned her second place and also set a career-high and marked the fifth highest bars score in school history. Moon also finished in fourth place on vault with a score of 9.750 and in fifth place on floor with a score of 9.775.
Also contributing for the Terps were sophomore Jodi Morgan (East Petersburg, Pa./Hempfield) and freshmen Kit Johnson (Virginia Beach, Va./Salem) and Lisa Mealey (Bensalem, Pa./Villa Joseph Marie). Morgan recorded a career-high 9.775 on vault earning her a tie for second place with teammate Johnson. Johnson's score of 9.775 on vault marked the fourth time in seven meets that she has recorded a 9.775 or better on vault. Mealey kept up her outstanding bar performance as she finished in a tie for third place with a 9.8, the second highest bars score of her career and the seventh best in Maryland history.
The Terps (11-5, 3-3 EAGL) will be in action again in two days on Sunday, Feb. 28 when they travel to Lincoln, Neb. to take on No. 7 Nebraska, No. 8 Arizona State and California at 3 p.m.
TEAM SCORES
1. Towson 194.875
2. MARYLAND 194.500
ALL-AROUND
1. Gillian Cote (MD) 39.400
2. Liane Williams (TU) 39.275
3. Laura Moon (MD) 39.250
4. Niina Parjanen (TU) 38.950
5. Christine Holcombe (MD) 37.975
VAULT
1. Gillian Cote (MD) 9.800
2. Kit Johnson (MD) 9.775
3. Jodi Morgan (MD) 9.775
4. Laura Moon (MD) 9.750
5. Charlotte Andreasen (TU) 9.725
BARS
1. Angie Stritt (TU) 9.875
2. Laura Moon (MD) 9.825
3. Gillian Cote (MD) 9.800
4. Lisa Mealey (MD) 9.800
5. Liane Williams (TU) 9.775
BEAM
1. Gillian Cote (MD) 9.900
2. Laura Moon (MD) 9.900
3. Liane Williams (TU) 9.875
4. Heather Hanson (TU) 9.850
5. Niina Parjanen (TU) 9.850
FLOOR
1. Liane Williams (TU) 9.925
2. Gillian Cote (MD) 9.900
3. Angie Stritt (TU) 9.875
4. Niina Parjanen (TU) 9.850
5. Laura Moon (MD) 9.775
