UIC-NIU Results 

DEKALB, Ill. -- The Northern Illinois University women's gymnastics team posted its first victory of the season with a 192.975-190.375 decision over UIC at the Convocation Center Saturday afternoon.

NIU (1-1) entered this meet focusing on sticking its landings and NIU head coach Sam Morreale felt his squad accomplished that in the win over the Flames.

"We tried to focus a little bit more on our landings," Morreale said. "I thought we did a better job of that. The first two events went really well for us. We had a really good head of steam going. We were tracking toward that 194 mark, which is what we shoot for."

The Huskies started off the meet with a strong showing on the vault, scoring a 48.400. Megan Greenfield (Crystal Lake, Ill./Crystal Lake South) and Andie Van Voorhis (Columbus, Ohio/Hilliard) led the way for the NIU vault team. Van Voorhis won the event with a 9.800, while Greenfield came in second after scoring a 9.775. UIC scored a 47.500 on the uneven parallel bars in the first rotation and NIU went into its second event with a comfortable advantage.

NIU carried that momentum into what is becoming their best event of the season, the bars. The Huskies scored a season-high 48.750, en route to sweeping the top three individual spots. Jamyra Carter took first in the event with a 9.875, tying her career best, while Ashley Potts took second with a 9.850, also a personal best. Senior Lauren Africano (Bourbonnais, Ill./Bradley-Bourbonnais) took third after posting a 9.750.

With a 97.150-95.300 lead after the second rotation, the Huskies headed to beam. Unfortunately, NIU's beam team was unable to carry over its performances in the vault and bars to its third event of the day. The Huskies scored a 47.625 on beam, with Greenfield winning the event with a 9.750.

The Huskies' young floor unit performed a little better in NIU's final event of the day. Led by freshmen Paige Nicholas (Cleveland, Ohio/Lutheran West) and Ally Ferber (Woodbury, N.Y./Syosset) , the Huskies posted a 48.200 on the floor exercise. Nicholas turned in a 9.750 to win the event, while Ferber took fourth with a 9.650.

"It's not like we did bad on beam, we were just a little shaky," he said. "We underachieved again on floor. It's a new floor squad. There are young kids out there. They just have to figure it out.

"We'll get back in the gym and try and build off this meet. We did improve. I'm happy with that."

NIU returns to action Friday when the Huskies play host to Central Michigan in Victor E. Court at the Convocation Center. Fans can watch the meet live on NIUTube or follow all the action via live stats at NIUHuskies.com. The meet starts at 7 p.m. CT.

-NIU-