Jan. 25, 2012

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COLLEGE PARK, Md. - The 24th-ranked Maryland gymnastics team (3-2, 1-1 EAGL) travels to Gainesville, Fla., Friday, Jan. 27 for a 7 p.m. quad meet against the top-ranked Arkansas Razorbacks, the eighth-ranked Florida Gators and the Bridgeport Purple Knights. The Terps last faced the top-rated team on Jan. 27, 2002, when Maryland took on Georgia.

Last week, the Terps scored 193.950 points, their second highest total of the season, to win the tri meet against Alaska and Bridgeport.

Junior Ally Krikorian scored a career-high 38.800 in the all-around to finish second, and freshman Stephanie Giameo won on beam with a 9.750 and set a career high with a 9.800 on floor. Giameo's performance earned her EAGL Rookie of the Week honors.

Live stats will be available and GatorVision will offer a live webcast of the meet.

The meet will be Maryland's first matchup with Arkansas. After last week's victory, the Terps are 4-0 against Bridgeport, while Florida has won all 16 meetings with the Terps.

Arkansas

The Razorbacks enter the weekend averaging 196.775 points per meet which is the highest in the nation. Last week against LSU, Arkansas scored a season-high 197.225 in a victory over the No. 17 Tigers.

Arkansas is ranked in the top-10 on all four events and is the top-ranked team on bars averaging 49.308 points per meet.

The Razorbacks are led by Katherine Grable and Jaime Pisani. Grable and Pisani are ranked second and ninth, respectively, in the all-around. Grable is second nationally on beam averaging a 9.900 while Pisani is ranked second on floor with a 9.933 average.

Bridgeport

The Purple Knights moved to 2-1 after splitting a tri meet at Maryland on Friday. Bridgeport is second in the ECAC and fifth in the northeast region scoring 191.183 per meet.

Monica Mesalles has been Bridgeport's top performer this season. Mesalles, who won the all-around on Friday, is 11th regionally with a 38.675 average, and ranks in the top-10 on vault, beam and floor.

Florida

The Gators' total score has improved in each of their three meets. Florida's best performance came on Friday against Kentucky. The Gators scored a 196.275 en route to their third victory and first conference win.

Florida ranks in the top-10 on vault, bars and beam. The Gators are ranked sixth on bars and beam, and 10th on vault.

Overall, three Gators rank in the top-20 led by 16th-ranked Kytra Hunter averaging 39.233 in the all-around.