March 16, 2012

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COLLEGE PARK, Md. - The Maryland gymnastics team concludes its regular season in University Park, Pa., Saturday, March 17 against No. 12 Penn State at 7 p.m. at Rec Hall. It is the second time this season the Terps and Nittany Lions have met. The two squads opened the season in a tri-meet in Morgantown, W. Va.

Maryland
The Terps (12-9, 3-4 EAGL) enter the meet with the 36th-best RQS in the nation (194.290) after scoring a season-high 195.075 at home last weekend against Bridgeport and Penn.

Maryland ranks 31st on vault and 36th on floor with a RQS of 48.805 in both events. The Terps are 36th on bars with a RQS of 48.695, and rank 38th on beam with a RQS of 48.310.

Sophomore Katy Dodds is in the top-50 nationally on vault and floor. Dodds is tied for 33rd on floor with an RQS of 9.855. Dodds has scored a 9.800 or higher in 8 of 10 meets this season.

On vault, the Gaithersburg, Md., native is tied for 44th with a 9.860 RQS. Dodds is joined in the vault rankings by junior Ally Krikorian who is tied for 39th with a 9.865 RQS.

Last Time Out
The Terps scored a season-high 195.075 in at tri-meet against Bridgeport and Penn Sunday afternoon at Comcast Center. It was the Terps' highest score since Feb. 18, 2011, at Penn State (195.300).

Maryland turned in a standout performance on bars with a season-high 49.050. Sophomore Karen Tang tied a career-high with a 9.875 to win the event. Senior Kyra Phillips tied a personal best (9.825) to win the silver.

Junior Ally Krikorian won vault with a 9.850 and sophomore Katy Dodds won on floor with a 9.875.

Series History
Penn State leads the all-time series against Maryland. The Nittany Lions hold a 13-2 advantage which includes their victory earlier this season. Maryland's last win over Penn State came on March 3, 2001.

Live Coverage
Penn State will provide live stats once the meet begins on GoPSUsports.com.

Penn State

In a 196.425-195.095 victory at Pittsburgh on March 11, the Nittany Lions posted season highs on both the uneven bars and floor exercise. Penn State posted a 49.200 on bars in the first rotation and earned a 49.450 on floor in the third rotation.

The Nittany Lions are ranked seventh on floor with a 49.205 RQS and ninth on beam with 49.120 RQS.

Madison Merriam is the 23rd-rated gymnasts in the country. Merriam is has a 39.185 RQS in the all-around.