Jan. 12, 2004

COLLEGE PARK, Md. - Despite a narrow loss to Pittsburgh and Ohio State at their season opener on the road Jan. 10, the Terps have moved up one spot in the national rankings to No. 28. The team totaled a 192.825 in Columbus, Ohio, marking the second-highest score in program history for the first meet in a season.

Boosting the team's total was a vault score of 48.825, thanks to four gymnasts scoring a 9.700 or above. The total tied for the 10th-best in school history, putting the team at No. 13 in the national rankings.

Gaining a top individual ranking this week is sophomore Rachel Martinez, whose all-around score of 39.300 gave her first place at the meet and puts her tied for 14th in the country. Junior Mandy Pascual also reached the national list, at No. 29 in the uneven bars, as her score of 9.850 in Columbus gave her first in the event.

The team looks to continue moving up the national chart this Saturday, Jan. 17, when it travels to Denver, Colo., to take on the Denver Pioneers. The Terps are 1-1 against the Pioneers and last met them on Jan. 13, 2001, where Denver beat Maryland 194.175 to 191.925.