Final Stats

2015 MAC Gymnastics Results 

KENT, Ohio - The Northern Illinois University women's gymnastics team scored a 193.200 to finish tied for sixth in the 2015 Mid-American Conference Gymnastics Championships Saturday afternoon.

"It didn't go our way," said NIU head coach Sam Morreale. "We had some bad breaks on those last two events where we uncharacteristically had some mistakes from athletes we relied and counted on all year. This was not how we wanted it to end. We definitely feel like we're better than the sixth-place team in the MAC."

NIU (11-4, 4-2) was led by Amanda Stepp (Lapeer, Mich./Lapeer), who was competing in her final MAC Championships. The Huskie senior carried the momentum from her performance in the regular season finale. She scored a 9.850 on the floor exercise, a 9.875 on the vault and a 9.700 on the balance beam. She finished in third on the vault and seventh on the floor.

Freshman Andie Van Voorhis (Columbus, Ohio/Hilliard) had a solid effort in her first MAC Championships. She tied with Stepp for third on the vault with a 9.875 and a 9.700 on the beam.

The Huskies started its afternoon on the floor exercise, scoring a 48.650. In addition to Stepp's performance, sophomore Brittany Wenzel (Hilliard, Ohio/Davidson) scored a 9.775. Courtney Dowdell (Lynwood, Ill./Thornton Fractional) posted a 9.700.

"We did have some good things happen today," Morreale said. "Floor scoring was tough, but the kids battled and ended up with a pretty good score there. We vaulted as well as we vaulted all year."

Following a bye, NIU moved on to the vault where the Huskies turned in their best score of the day recording a 48.950. In addition to Stepp and Van Voorhis' aforementioned performances, sophomore Megan Greenfield (Crystal Lake, Ill./Crystal Lake South) posted a 9.800, while Dowdell and Kelly Nortz (Bay Village, Ohio/Magnificat) each added a 9.700.

The fifth rotation saw the Huskies competing on the uneven parallel bars. It was at this point where NIU ran into some difficulties. Two Huskies fell off the bars during their routines bringing NIU's team score to 48.350. The lone bright spot on the event came from junior Lauren Africano (Bourbonnais, Ill./Bradley-Bourbonnais) who scored a team-best 9.825

Unfortunately for NIU, things did not improve in the seventh and final rotation. Three Huskies fell off the beam during their routines giving NIU a total score of 47.250, the lowest of the season.

Kent State won the team title with a 196.375, edging out Central Michigan. The Chippewas finished second with a 196.275. Western Michigan took third with a 195.525, while Eastern Michigan finished fourth with a 195.075. Bowling Green's 193.575 put the Falcons in fifth and Ball State took sixth along with the Huskies.

-NIU-