Feb. 14, 2016

WMU-NIU Results 

DEKALB, Ill. -- The Northern Illinois University women's gymnastics team scored a season high 195.00 to pick up its first league victory of the season defeating Western Michigan at the Convocation Center Sunday afternoon.

The Huskies (4-6, 1-3) turned in that complete meet NIU head coach Sam Morreale knew they were capable of in the win over the Broncos.

"This is something we've been striving for, getting four good events in in the same meet," said NIU head coach Sam Morreale. "We were able to get five good counting scores on all four events today. We still had a couple misses here and there but I was pumped with way the kids rebounded after a miss."

NIU won all four events with three Huskies taking home individual titles, led by freshman Anna Martucci (Clarkston, Mich./Our Lady of the Lakes). Martucci posted a career-high 9.900 on the floor exercise. It was also the team's season best and ranks fourth all-time in NIU's record book.

"She makes things look really easy, and that's a good thing," Morreale said of Martucci.

The Huskies set the tone for the meet early, posting a 48.825 on vault. Andie Van Voorhis (Columbus, Ohio/Hilliard) tied her career high when she posted a season-best 9.875 to win the event. Megan Greenfield (Crystal Lake, Ill./Crystal Lake South) came in second with a season-high 9.800.

NIU carried its vault performance to the uneven parallel bars. The Huskies scored a 48.800 with Ashley Potts (Oakwood Hills, Ill./Prairie Ridge) and Lauren Africano (Bourbonnais, Ill/Bradley-Bourbonnais Community) taking second in the event. Both scored a 9.800 and helped give NIU a 97.625-97.275 lead into the third rotation.

Taylor Crumley (Lincolnshire, Ill./Stevenson) and Van Voorhis opened the beam team's performance with a pair of 9.700s. Martcucci and Potts each added a 9.675, before Greenfield nailed a 9.825, to give the Huskies a 48.600 on beam. Greenfield finished first, while Crumley and Van Voorhis took fourth as the next highest finishers.

The Huskies saved their best for last to clinch the meet. After posting its lowest score of the season on floor at the IGI Chicago Style Meet Friday night, NIU rebounded to post a 48.775, which is the second best floor score for NIU in 2016. Led by Martucci's 9.900, Courtney Dowdell (Lynwood, Ill./Thornton Fractional South) and Greenfield ended the event strong for the Huskies. Dowdell scored a season-high 9.800, while Greenfield's 9.825 was good enough for third.

Heading into the double meet weekend, Morreale felt this was a good chance for his team to get out and compete in front of crowds. Performing twice this weekend seemed to pay off for his squad.

"This was our best weekend of the year," he said. "We had two of our better meets. Friday wasn't a great score for us, but from a meet standpoint, we did a lot of things really well. Friday we learned how to keep energy up throughout the meet and we carried that into today."

NIU returns to action Friday when the Huskies play host to Ball State/Seattle Pacific. The meet starts at 6 p.m. CT and will be shown live on ESPN3. Live stats will also be available on NIUHuskies.com.

The meet will take place in Victor E. Court due to a concert taking place that evening in Convocation Center. Gymnastics fans should park in lot C-3 and indicate to the parking workers they are here for gymnastics and they will not be charged up until 6 p.m. After 6 p.m., the parking charge will be $10.

-NIU-