Maryland gymnastics coach Brad Nelligan urged the Terps to take better control of their landings after the team’s loss to Iowa, and early in Sunday’s meet against No. 7 Michigan, it seemed they were able to do just that.
Led by sophomore Alecia Farina’s team-best score of 9.875 on bars, the Terps kept the meet close, trailing by .200 at the end of the first series of events. However, Maryland fell behind after the Wolverines’ effective vault and beam routines, losing 196.875-195.050 in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
While the Terps posted season-high totals on vault and bar, a season-low combined score on the beam proved costly. Sophomore Kirsten Peterman scored a team-high 9.80 on the beam and Farina and freshman Karrie Thomas each posted a 9.75. However, the Terps were unable to overcome freshman Audrey Barber’s 9.00.
Michigan, meanwhile, capitalized on its opportunities on the beam. Senior Lauren Marinez was the lone Wolverine to not score at least a 9.85.
Maryland kept the meet close as a result of high-scoring routines on a floor, but the Wolverines responded with success on the beam.
Despite their individual success, the Terps had difficulty matching junior Paige Zaziski’s routines. She scored a 9.9 on vault, bars and beam, helping the Wolverines secure their fourth win this season.
After securing their first conference win of the year Jan. 19, the Terps have dropped consecutive meets. Nelligan’s team returns to College Park next Sunday to face William & Mary, Rutgers and Brown in the Maryland Quad Meet at Xfinity Center.
