COLLEGE PARK, Md.-- Behind a 9.950 from Ebony Walters on floor, the Maryland gymnastics team tallied a season-high team total, 196.000, en route to a quad-meet victory over William & Mary, Bridgeport and Southern Connecticut. Walters' performance, the final of the meet, helped secure a 196.000 team score and is a new personal best. The tally is also good for sixth-best in program history.
Bridgeport (194.075) placed second, while William & Mary (193.600) and Southern Connecticut (189.325) placed third and fourth, respectively.
With the victory, Maryland moves to 14-5-1 on the season and 2-3 in the Big Ten. The Terps have won eight straight meets, and 13 of its last 14. The last time the Terrapins registered a team score of 196.000 or above, was during the 2013 season.
“Today was the day we put it all together,” head coach Brett Nelligan said. “Ebony stepped up to the plate, like she has been doing all season and had an amazing performance. You could not have scripted this, especially on Senior Day, any better.”
The GymTerps were in control all meet, opening on vault and registering a 49.000. Dominiquea Trotter (9.800), Abbie Epperson (9.775), Kathy Tang (9.800), Shannon Skochko (9.825) and Katy Dodds (9.800) all contributed high scores.
On the second rotation, bars, the team kept momentum, recording a season-high 49.250, the fifth-best in program history. Sarah Faller led off with a career-high 9.850. Evelyn Nee (9.825) and Kathy Tang (9.875) also registered career-bests, while Epperson (9.850) and Karen Tang (9.850) both added high scores. Kathy Tang took the individual title on the event, with Faller, Epperson and Karen Tang tying for second.
Beam proved to be a slight hiccup, as the team registered a 48.625. Leah Slobodin (9.800) and Stephanie Giameo (9.850) both led the way for the Terps on the event. Faller, Dani Kram and Trotter all added a 9.650. Giameo took the beam crown as Slobodin took second on beam.
In the final rotation, the Terrapins came up big, recording a season-high score of 49.250. Trotter (9.750), Giameo (9.800), Karen Tang (9.825), Kathy Tang (9.800) and Walters (9.950) all contributed to the team score.
Sunday's meet also marked Senior Day as well as Alumni Day. The Terps took the time to recognize, Katy Dodds, Stephanie Giameo, Shannon Skochko, Karen Tang, Dani Kram, Ebony Walters and Nicole Wright at the conclusion of the meet.
Next up, Maryland heads to Lincoln, Neb. for the Big Five meet against Nebraska, Illinois, Michigan State and Ohio State. The meet will be broadcasted on the Big Ten Network on Saturday, March 14 at 1 p.m. ET.
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