Feb. 26, 2009

COLLEGE PARK, Md. - Carrying the momentum of yet another season-best performance, the No. 25 University of Maryland team closes out the road portion of its 2009 regular season by traveling to Iowa City, Iowa, for a nonconference dual meet with the No. 21 Hawkeyes Saturday evening in Carver-Hawkeye Arena.

The Terrapins (10-5, 7-2 EAGL) maintained their spot in the Troester Top 25 national poll for the second consecutive week and upped their win total to double digits by securing their best team score in nearly four years (195.100) to defeat New Hampshire in a home dual meet last Friday. But another challenge awaits Maryland in Iowa, which has notched team scores exceeding 194 in all but one of its eight meets this season.

As has been the case all season, Maryland enters Saturday's competition pitted against an opponent that has posted relatively comparable scores throughout the season. While the Hawkeyes boast a slightly better team RQS this season (194.525 to 194.325), the Terps have a small upper hand with their season-best team mark (195.100 to 195.050).

Maryland stands 2-1 this season versus Top-25 foes, having beaten No. 17 Denver and No. 19 West Virginia but lost at No. 12 Ohio State. The victory over the Mountaineers occurred during a Jan. 31 quad-meet at Morgantown, W.Va.

"Our team has been able to overcome challenges and take care of business on the road pretty much all season," head coach Bob Nelligan said. "This is another tough meet, but we're looking forward to seeing what we can do against a talented Iowa squad."

The Terps' team RQS ranks second in the East Atlantic Gymnastics League (EAGL) behind that of league leader West Virginia. Junior Brandi George leads the EAGL on all-around (38.955 RQS) and ranks third on uneven bars (9.795). Sophomore Abbey Adams stands second in the league on uneven bars (9.805) and fourth on floor exercise (9.810). Juniors Talia Tossone and Michele Brenner rank third and fifth in the EAGL on balance beam (9.780) and floor exercise (9.800), respectively.

Last Time Out
Facing a deficit after two rotations, Maryland 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 a dual meet last Friday evening in the Comcast Center Pavilion. Maryland's team score marked the squad's best since posting a 195.200 during the 2005 EAGL Championships.

The Terps 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 balance 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).

Scouting the Competition
• No. 21 Iowa (8-4, 2-1 Big Ten Conference) has risen steadily through the Troester national rankings this season and have been ranked in the Top 25 for four consecutive weeks starting with the Feb. 2 poll.
• Sophomore Rebecca Simbhudas earned Big Ten co-Gymnast of the Week honors this week after securing consecutive all-around scores of 39.250 against Iowa State and Southern Utah to finish first and second, respectively. Her sister, Jennifer Simbhudas, also competes on the squad.
• Fellow sophomore Houry Gebeshian ranks 25th in the nation on all-around (39.095 RQS).
• Fifth-year head coach Larissa Libby enjoyed a successful 2008 campaign, guiding the Hawkeyes to their first NCAA Regional appearance since 2005.

Series History
The Terps are 1-2 all-time versus Iowa, having beaten the Hawkeyes, 195.850 to 193.775, during the 2001 NCAA Southeast Regional Championships. The squads last met on Valentine's Day in 2004.

National Rankings
The Terps currently rank among the nation's top 30 teams in all four events, coming in at 21st on uneven bars (48.625 RQS), 23rd on floor exercise (48.695), 27th on vault (48.695) and 29th on balance beam (48.295). Individually, five Maryland gymnasts rank among the top 75 in the country in at least one event. Brandi George ranks 38th on all-around (38.955 RQS) and is tied for 55th on both uneven bars (9.795) and balance beam (9.780). Abbey Adams ranks tied for 48th on uneven bars (9.805), 51st on floor exercise (9.810), 53rd on all-around (38.605) and tied for 72nd on vault (9.800). Talia Tossone stands 54th on balance beam (9.780). Michele Brenner ranks 60th on floor exercise (9.800) and Kyra Phillips stands tied for 72nd on vault (9.800).

Did You Know
Saturday's meet in Iowa City, Iowa, represents just the second time in the last four seasons Maryland is competing west of the Mississippi River - a span of 22 road meets. The other such meet occurred last season, when the Terps ventured to Denton, Texas, to face host Texas Woman's along with Air Force and Denver on Jan. 27, 2008.

Up Next
Following Saturday's meet at Iowa, the Terps return home for the first of three consecutive homes meets to close out the 2009 regular season. Maryland takes on fellow EAGL opponent North Carolina and Temple at 7 p.m. March 6 in the Comcast Center Pavilion.