Feb. 13, 2009

Complete Results

PITTSBURGH - With each passing week during its 2009 season, the University of Maryland gymnastics team finds itself conquering a new challenge and reaching deeper into the program's history to find a similar feat.

Securing yet another season-best team score Friday evening, the Terrapins bested the Panthers, 194.650 to 194.050, to win in Pittsburgh's Fitzgerald Field House for the first time in nearly a four-year span dating back to Feb. 19, 2005.

Junior Brandi George claimed three individual titles and Maryland hit 24-for-24 routines, as the team improved to 9-3 on the season and earned its sixth win against a fellow member of the East Atlantic Gymnastics League (EAGL) against only two losses.

For the third time in four weeks, Maryland established its top team score in almost two years. Friday's score marks the program's best since compiling a team total of 194.700 versus New Hampshire on Feb.23, 2007.

Although the Terps did not record any team season-high events scores against the Panthers, they demonstrated remarkable consistency in all four events, earning marks of 48.650 on vault, 48.675 on uneven bars, 48.625 on balance beam and 48.700 on floor exercise. George won on floor exercise (9.825) and notched a career-best score on uneven bars (9.825) to tie teammate Abbey Adams for that individual victory in claiming her third all-around title of the season.

After two rotations, however, Maryland found itself facing a deficit thanks to Pittsburgh's impressive performance on vault. But the Terps rallied, securing the lead on floor exercise and maintaining it on balance beam behind a strong team effort. Junior Candice King recorded a season-high score (9.675) on beam and fellow junior Michele Brenner added a season-best mark (9.700).

Fresh off an excellent performance at the Governor's Cup, junior Talia Tossone contributed a pair of third place finishes on balance beam (9.775) and floor exercise (9.775) to aid Maryland's comeback bid.

"I'm extremely proud of our team," said head coach Bob Nelligan, who earned the 487th victory of his career. "We were behind midway through the meet, and we showed a lot of heart fighting back to beat a very good Pittsburgh squad."

The Terrapins have little time to rest, as they return to action at 1 p.m. Sunday when they travel to Kent, Ohio, to face a pair of Mid-American Conference opponents. Maryland takes on host Kent State and Central Michigan in the Golden Flashes' M.A.C. Center.