WASHINGTON, D.C. — Small deductions and lackluster scores prevented Maryland gymnastics from breaking 196 for the fourth consecutive meet.

The Terps scored 195.500 at a quad meet on Friday, defeating host George Washington but falling to Towson and No. 19 NC State. The outing was Maryland’s lowest meet score since Feb. 21.

Minor stumbles and a pair of near-falls held Maryland’s (12-8) first three beam scores below 9.750.

Sophomore Lauren Brendlinger and fifth-year Alexa Rothenbuescher wobbled and leaned to maintain balance during their routines but had mostly clean performances otherwise. Sophomore Layla Hammer, in her first meet since suffering a high ankle sprain at the Rutgers Quad on Feb. 2, limited miscues en route to a solid 9.725.

Three-event gymnast Natalie Martin, who ranks second on the team in national qualifying score on beam, completed the cleanest routine of the rotation to help the Terps get off to a strong start. But their always-reliable anchor fell on beam for the first time this year right after.

[Eliminating mistakes, improved confidence power Maryland gymnastics’ second-half surge]

Junior Madeline Komoroski, the Terps’ leading scorer on beam by a healthy margin, lost her balance and hopped off the beam. The fall dropped her score to 9.000 in her first major deduction on the rotation this season.

“Maddie doesn’t fall very often, so when she does you kinda take it as it’s not meant to be,” coach Brett Nelligan said. “I just gave her a hug and said ‘You’ll be on track on senior night.’”

The Terps finished their first rotation with a disappointing 48.600 after exceeding 49 on beam at their past two meets.

Rothenbuescher was absent from Maryland’s floor lineup on Friday after an injury forced her to run through her routine’s final pass last meet. In her first collegiate meet, sophomore Gianna Ruffing faced the lofty task of replacing her.

Ruffing scored a respectable 9.675 while filling in for the reigning All-Big Ten Second Team member and the Terps’ leading floor scorer by NQS.

“[Ruffing’s] first pass was outstanding,” Nelligan said. “When she gets more opportunities, that second pass will even be a little cleaner and her score will continue to go up.”

[Maryland gymnastics all-around performance leads to win at Yale Tri Meet ]

The rotation featured three scores of at least 9.800, but Maryland still fell short of 49.000 for a second consecutive meet. The Terps hit that mark in three straight competitions before last week at the Yale Tri Meet.

Maryland’s vault unit has recently strung together stuck landings throughout the lineup, leading to its best scores of the year. It failed to do so Friday but still managed a great outing.

Junior Taylor Rech and Martin bolstered the Terps’ score with a 9.825 each, powering the unit to a flat 49.000, its fifth time scoring at least that much on vault this year.

Sierra Kondo returned from a month-long hiatus and immediately returned as one of Maryland’s best on bars. After taking time off to correct her form following a fall at Washington, the senior stuck one of the cleanest landings of the day. The bars specialist tied with freshman Sarah Saville for the team’s highest bars score at 9.850.

“So much focus and mental effort went into getting [Kondo] back to this place, and she’s feeling really great now,” Nelligan said. “I’m excited to see what she does on senior night and [in] the postseason.”

Hailey Merchant had a near-miss after catching the low bar awkwardly, though she maintained her grip and kept herself from falling. Maryland dropped the senior’s score after all five other gymnasts scored at least 9.775.

Maryland posted 49.075 on beam, powered by consistency in the lineup. But it still only topped George Washington as every school was strong throughout.

The Terps return to College Park on Sunday for their final regular-season meet against George Washington, Towson and Yale. They’ll look for better success ahead of the Big Ten Championships.