Feb. 19, 2009

COLLEGE PARK, Md. - Following more than 1,700 miles of travel to attend four road meets, the No. 25 University of Maryland gymnastics team competes at home for the first time in nearly a month when it plays host to New Hampshire at 6 p.m. Friday in the Comcast Center Pavilion.

The Terrapins (9-5, 6-2 East Atlantic Gymnastics League) find themselves ranked among the Troester Top 25 national poll for the first time since Jan. 17, 2005, after catapulting 14 spots up the chart following the transition to using RQS scoring to determine rankings. Maryland's initial RQS score of 193.365 is good for second place in the EAGL behind reigning league champion West Virginia.

Maryland has enjoyed remarkable consistency throughout its last five meets, securing scores ranging from 193.675 to 194.650 in each competition, despite having four of those meets take place away from the Terps' home gymnasium. But another challenge awaits the team in New Hampshire, which has beaten 11 of its first 13 opponents and boasts a team RQS similar to that of Maryland at 193.030.

"We're excited to be returning home to compete in our gym in front of our fans, but there are no breaks in our schedule," head coach Bob Nelligan said. "New Hampshire is another very talented team from our league, and this should be another challenging meet."

New Hampshire and Maryland met previously this season Feb. 7 at the Governor's Cup in Raleigh N.C., with the Terps besting the Wildcats in that five-team competition by a score of 193.675 to 191.775.

The Terps received strong performances last weekend from a host of gymnasts during a pair of meets against Pittsburgh, Kent State and Central Michigan, enabling several Terps to ascend the EAGL's individual rankings. Junior Brandi George currently leads the league on uneven bars (9.780 RQS) and all-around (38.795). Fellow junior Talia Tossone stands second on balance beam (9.750), while Abbey Adams (9.770 RQS on uneven bars) and Michele Brenner (9.790 RQX on floor exercise) rank third in the EAGL in their respective events.

Friday evening's meet is free and open to the public. The meet is in support of breast cancer research so fans are encouraged to wear pink.

Last Time Out
Maryland participated in a pair of road meets last weekend, competing at Pittsburgh Friday evening and taking on host Kent State and Central Michigan Sunday afternoon. Securing yet another season-best team score, the Terps 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. Brandi George claimed three individual titles and Maryland hit 24-for-24 routines in beating its sixth EAGL opponent of the season.

Competing for the second time in three days last Sunday, 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. Kyra Phillips recorded Maryland's best individual score of the season on vault (9.900) to finish tied for second, and Abbey Adams claimed second place on all-around after compiling a career-best score of 39.125.

Scouting the Competition
• New Hampshire (11-3), which posted a season-best team score of 196.225 at home versus North Carolina on Jan. 31, currently ranks fourth in the EAGL and 31st nationally with a team RQS of 193.030.
• The Wildcats have been at their best this season competing on balance beam (second in the EAGL - 48.000 RQS) and on vault (third - 48.715).
• Junior Taryn LaFountain leads the league on balance beam (9.810 RQS), having twice garnered EAGL Specialist of the Week honors this season. LaFountain won on both beam (9.825) and floor exercise (9.900) during New Hampshire's most recent meet on Feb. 14.

National Rankings
The Terps currently rank among the nation's top 25 teams in all four events, coming in at 22nd on vault (48.465 RQS), 24th on uneven bars (48.465), 24th on floor exercise (48.595) and 25th on balance beam (48.100). Individually, five Maryland gymnasts rank among the top 50 in the country in six events. Talia Tossone ranks 37th on balance beam (9.750 RQS), Brandi George stands 41st on uneven bars (9.780) and tied for 42nd on balance beam, Michele Brenner ranks tied for 44th on floor exercise (9.790), Abbey Adams is tied for 46th on uneven bars and Kyra Phillips ranks tied for 48th on vault (9.790).

Similar Roots
Maryland sophomore Abbey Adams and New Hampshire junior Diane Grey both hail from Spring, Texas. Both gymnasts trained at Cypress Gymnastics Academy.

Did You Know
Maryland's team vault score of 48.975 during last Sunday's meet against Kent State and Central Michigan tied for the fifth-best team mark in the event in the program's 34-year history. The Terps' top vault score of all-time occurred during a dual meet on March 6, 2004, when the team posted a score of 49.175.

Up Next
Following Friday's home meet against New Hampshire, the Terrapins take a break from league play to hit the road and take on No. 23 Iowa at 7 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 28, in Iowa City, Iowa.