Taylor Rech led-off on the floor exercise, dancing and tumbling to near-perfection. The execution on the freshman’s first pass, a front tumbling series, began the Terps’ floor routines with a 9.750.

No. 24 Maryland (5-2, 2-2 Big Ten) defeated Southern Connecticut State (5-12, 0-0 GEC) 196.550- 193.400 in the teams’ 12th all-time meeting.

Maryland fans filed into the Xfinity Center Friday night for the annual Beauty and the Beast Meet, an event showcasing Maryland gymnastics and wrestling side-by-side for the sixth time ever. In red and yellow sparkly hair bows and Maryland flag leotards, the gymnastics team was competed at home for the first time in three weeks.

“It was really cool,” Silberman said of competing alongside the wrestling team. “A bunch of the other girls were really excited and I think that exceeded our expectations.”

[No. 25 Maryland gymnastics sets season-high total with 196.875-196.325 win over Rutgers]

The Terps entered Friday’s meet coming off of a season high 196.875, downing Rutgers on the road. Vault was where the Terps began their evening, scoring 49.200, the highest vault score of the season. Reece McClure, Josephine Kogler, Alexa Rothenbuescher and Alexsis Rubio each earned 9.850.

Statistically, vault has been Maryland’s best event this season, ranking 19th in the nation.

“I thought they were nice and calm, instead of trying to be so forceful,” coach Brett Nelligan said of the vault unit. “Finally, they put it together in the landings.”

On uneven bars, the Terps scored below a 49.000 on an event for the first time since January 29 against Michigan State. Silberman led the bars squad with a 9.850, connecting her high bar routine to a shoot-over to the low bar. 

Maryland completed its third rotation on the balance beam. At Ohio State and Rutgers, Elizabeth Debarberie fell off the beam. Back at home, she remained composed and spotted the end of the beam, earning a 9.775.

“We wanted to give Elizabeth just a little more time,” Nelligan said. “Putting her second, I think, gives her another minute to kind of breathe and focus. She looks great on that second spot”

[Maryland gymnastics drops second straight meet, falls to No. 15 Ohio State, 197.575-196.475]

Josephine Kogler and Maddie Komoroski each scored a 9.900, gymnasts who continue to lead the beam team in consistency. Kogler earned a 9.925 and Komoroski a 9.900 at Rutgers last week. 

“You got a freshman, sophomore at the end getting the job done for us,” Nelligan said. “We have a really balanced effort and I think that’s what’s helping us this year.”

The all-around champion was Silberman, her first all-around title of the season. She scored a 39.300 and a rose from former Maryland gymnastics star, Katy Dodds. 

Maryland hosts No.19 Minnesota on Sunday. The Golden Gophers have gotten the better of the Terps dating back to 2015.“We’re more than prepared for this,” Silberman said. “It’s just another opportunity to prove ourselves.”