Maryland gymnastics struggles at NCAA regionals to end season

After a successful campaign that culminated in a second straight NCAA Tournament berth, Maryland gymnastics’ season ended Friday night with a disappointing showing the NCAA Athens Regional.

The Terps finished last in the four-team night session in Athens, posting 194.65 points, their worst score since January. Maryland started with a lackluster 48.40 on floor, which severely damaged the Terps’ chances of placing top-two and advancing. Despite better performances on vault (49.05) and bars (48.95), the Terps also struggled on beam (48.25) and never got back into the mix.

Sophomore Audrey Barber was the only Terp to compete in all four disciplines, and her all-around score of 39.325 was third-highest at the regional.

Top overall seed Oklahoma (198.30) and California (196.75) advanced out of the session, while play-in winner NC State posted 195.40. Oklahoma tallied 198.475 in the second round Saturday, the highest score any team has recorded this tournament, clinching a spot in the finals, which take place April 19-20 in Fort Worth, Texas.

Despite a disappointing postseason that also included a ninth-place finish at the Big Ten championships, Maryland still enjoyed a successful year, posting a 17-8 record and entering NCAAs ranked No. 28 nationally, which allowed the team to avoid a play-in meet and start its tournament run a day later.

Maryland graduates four seniors, but 19 of the Terps’ 24 routines Friday were completed by underclassmen. With two straight NCAA appearances under its belt, the program has plenty to build on going forward.

In other news

Maryland men’s and women’s lacrosse took both ends of Saturday’s doubleheader against Michigan, with the men returning to the win column and the women dominating the previously-unbeaten Wolverines.

Baseball took two of three from Illinois in the weekend series, pulling off a ninth-inning comeback Friday and splitting a doubleheader Saturday.

Softball won its series opener but dropped its final two contests against Michigan State.

Tennis lost its sixth and seventh consecutive matches, falling to 3-14 overall and 1-6 in the Big Ten.

However, Maryland track & field had a successful weekend at the UVA Quad Meet, setting two new school records and racking up eight first-place finishes.

From InsideMdSports, Maryland basketball is quietly gathering support for a new basketball practice facility.

And your Monday reminder: with Michigan State losing to Texas Tech in the Final Four on Saturday night, Maryland still has the most recent national championship of any current Big Ten team.