Feb. 20, 2009
Complete Results
COLLEGE PARK, Md. - Midway through Friday evening's dual meet with New Hampshire, the No. 25 University of Maryland gymnastics team huddled on the gymnasium floor, talked about its upcoming rotations and proceeded to conquer.
Facing a deficit after two rotations, the Terrapins rallied, claiming season-best scores on balance beam and floor exercise to eclipse 195 for the first time in nearly four years and defeat the visiting Wildcats, 195.100 to 194.225, in the Comcast Center Pavilion. Maryland's team score marked the squad's best since posting a 195.200 during the 2005 East Atlantic Gymnastics League Championships.
The Terps (10-5, 7-2 EAGL) remained undefeated at home (4-0) thanks largely to standout team performances on balance beam and floor exercise, which produced scores of 48.725 and 49.000, respectively. Juniors Candice King, Michele Brenner and Brandi George led the way on beam, as King tallied a career-best score (9.700), Brenner added a season-high mark (9.750) and George finished tied for second (9.800).
Not to be outdone, Maryland's floor exercise squad maintained the lead established on beam by securing the top four individual scores. Sophomore Abbey Adams claimed victory with a career-best mark (9.900) followed by junior Talia Tossone and Brenner (9.800), as well as George (9.775).
"This team continues to grow and improve week by week right in front of our eyes," said head coach Bob Nelligan, who secured victory No. 488 of his career with the win over EAGL opponent New Hampshire (11-4). "This was a meet that could have gone the other way after those first couple rotations, yet our gymnasts refused to give up."
Maryland, which entered Friday's meet ranked among the Troester Top 25 national poll for the first time since January of 2005, also tied its season-best team mark on uneven bars (48.800), with George and Adams finishing tied for first (9.825). George and sophomores Kaitlin Joseph and Kelsey McDermid each stuck their landings on bars.
Adams earned the all-around title, establishing a career-best mark (39.150) for the second consecutive meet. In addition to her first -place finishes on uneven bars and floor exercise, the Spring, Texas, native secured the team's top score on vault (9.825) to tie for second place. She anchored three of the four events, leading off for the Terps on balance beam.
"Abbey's progression from her first season to her second has been outstanding," Nelligan said. "She continually rises to meet every challenge, and we look forward to watching her and her teammates develop more and more in the coming weeks."
The Terrapins return to action at 7 p.m. next Saturday, Feb. 28, when they take a break from league play to hit the road and take on the No. 23 Iowa Hawkeyes in Iowa City Iowa.
