Final Stats

NIU-WMU Results 

KALAMAZOO, Mich. - The Northern Illinois University women's gymnastics team suffered a 193.825-192.525 setback to league foe Western Michigan Sunday afternoon.

NIU (3-1, 1-1) scored a season-best 48.775 on the bars, to lead Western Michigan (2-1, 1-1), 48.775-48.050, after the first rotation. Meg Piepenbrink finished first with a pair of WMU gymnasts with a career-high 9.800.

"We had a really good start," said NIU head coach Sam Morreale. "We vaulted well, but we ran into some tight judging which kept us in check. Bars went really well for us. We finally got the bars squad to compete how they practice.

NIU took the vault as well, outscoring the Broncos, 48.300-48.050. However, the Broncos edged the Huskies on the uneven bars, 48.825-48.775 and the Huskies took a 97.075-96.875 lead into the third rotation.

However, Western Michigan scored a 48.375 on the beam, while the Huskies turned in a 48.000 on the floor to give the Broncos a 145.250-145.075. A 48.575 on the floor for the Broncos and a season-low 47.450 on the beam for NIU sealed the win for Western Michigan.

"We weren't super sharp on floor, but we weren't bad," he said. "We just couldn't finish on the beam. We're still just chasing that four-event meet where all four hit."

Megan Greenfield led the way for the Huskies taking first in the vault and the beam. The sophomore from Crystal Lake, Ill. posted a 9.750 on the vault and a 9.775 on the beam.

"She had two great events," Morreale said of Greenfield. "She performed really, really well. She's becoming a really solid competitor. She trusts her gymnastics which makes it really easy for her out there and is doing a good job of stepping up and getting it done.

Andy Van Voorhis was right behind her, taking second in the vault with a 9.725 and was the highest placing Huskie on the beam. The native from Columbus, Ohio took fifth on the beam with a beam.

NIU returns to action Friday, Feb. 6, when NIU travels to Mt. Pleasant, Mich. to face Central Michigan. Competition begins at 6 p.m. Central Time.

-NIU-