MINNEAPOLIS – Freshman Macey Roberts led the Terps on two apparatuses and sophomore Abbie Epperson set two new career highs but the No. 25 Maryland gymnastics team fell, 195.425-193.150, to No. 23 Minnesota Saturday afternoon.
"I was proud of the team tonight," head coach Brett Nelligan said. "We didn't get the outcome we wanted but they really handled a tough environment and tight judging well. This will help us moving forward."
Roberts turned in impressive performances on balance beam and floor, leading the Terrapins with a pair of 9.775s. Epperson set new personal bests on beam (9.775) and floor (9.725).
Senior Kathy Tang finished second on vault with a 9.775. Epperson placed second in the all-around with a 38.975.
The Terps started the meet on uneven bars, where Epperson led with a 9.775. Tang anchored Maryland with a 9.700 and freshman Megan McClelland scored a 9.625. The Terps posted a 48.225 in the opening rotation.
Maryland moved to vault, where the team totaled a 48.325. Tang paced the Terps on the apparatus with a 9.775 while Epperson and Roberts both scored 9.700s.
Roberts performed a solid floor routine to lead Maryland with a 9.775. Epperson set a career high with a 9.725, and Tang also scored a 9.725. The team tallied a 48.325 on floor.
The Terps finished the afternoon on balance beam, where the team scored a 48.275. Roberts and Epperson each earned 9.775s, personal bests for each of them. Tang earned a 9.725 on the apparatus.
Epperson and Tang both competed in the all-around, scoring a 38.975 and 38.925, respectively.
"I thought Kat and Abbie had another great meet tonight," Nelligan said. "They are proving not only that they can handle the all-around, but that they can excel."
Minnesota's Lindsay Mable won the vault (9.800), bars (9.850), floor (9.900) and all-around (39.400) titles and tied for the beam title (9.850).
The Terps compete at home for the first time this season when they host No. 29 Penn State next Sunday, January 24, at 4 p.m. The meet will be held in the XFINITY Center Pavilion. Seating will be extremely limited, so fans interested in attending should arrive early. The meet will be live streamed on BTN Plus.
-Maryland-
