Feb. 15, 2009

Complete Results

KENT, Ohio - Despite securing season-best team scores in two of the four events, the University of Maryland gymnastics squad fell to host Kent State and Central Michigan during a tri-meet Sunday afternoon in the Golden Flashes' M.A.C. Center.

Competing for the second time in three days, the Terrapins posted season-high marks on vault (48.975) and uneven bars (48.800) during their final two rotations en route to a team overall of 194.375. That performance, however, was not enough against the Golden Flashes and Chippewas, both members of the Mid-American Conference. Kent State won with a team score of 196.150 followed by Central Michigan at 194.700.

Freshman Kyra Phillips recorded Maryland's best individual score of the season on vault (9.900) to finish tied for second, and sophomore Abbey Adams also notched a career-best mark in the event (9.875), as the Terps closed out their third rotation with their top vault performance of the season. For Phillips, a first-year gymnast from Murrieta, Calif., her vault scored tied for the fourth-best individual mark in the event in school history.

One rotation later, the Terps' turned in an equally strong effort on uneven bars to capture a season-best mark in that event to close out the meet. Sophomore Kaitlin Joseph successfully incorporated a new dismount into her routine, earning a career-high score (9.800). Adams and junior Brandi George also posted scores of 9.800 on bars, placing tied for fourth in the event.

Adams claimed second place on all-around after compiling a career-best score of 39.125. Phillips also tied her career-high mark on floor exercise (9.725) in the only other event in which she participated.

Maryland (9-5, 6-2 EAGL) posted its fourth team mark topping 194 in its last five meets. The team also scored better than its season average (193.204 entering Sunday's competition) for the fifth consecutive meet.

During their pair of Valentine's Day weekend competitions, which also included a victory at Pittsburgh on Friday, the Terrapins hit on 49-of-50 overall routines.

"It's never easy competing twice in such a short span, and our team showed a lot of determination and toughness this weekend," head coach Bob Nelligan said. "I'm proud of our entire squad, and it's great to see a number of our younger gymnasts making such tremendous contributions."

Following four consecutive road meets, the Terrapins return home to play host to a meet for the first time in nearly a month. Maryland takes on fellow EAGL opponent New Hampshire at 6 p.m. Friday in the Comcast Center Pavilion. The meet is free and open to the public.