Complete Results 

MUNCIE, Ind. – The Northern Illinois University gymnastics team took sixth at the 2016 Mid-American Conference Gymnastics Championships posting a 194.975 in Worthen Arena Saturday.

“The hard thing for us is we had a decent meet,” said NIU head coach Sam Morreale. “A little uncharacteristic on bars, but it is what it is. They carried us all year, so you don’t place the blame on any one group of any one kid.

“We did a great job after that of coming back and hitting on beam, doing really well on floor and finishing really strong on vault. We just dug ourselves too big of a hole and couldn’t get out of it.”

The Huskies’ (10-15, 2-4) floor team led the way with a season-high 49.200, which ranks third all-time in NIU’s record book. NIU’s all-around score was the highest in a MAC Championship, topping the previous best of 194.600 set in 2004.

“It was a really good floor run,” Morreale said. “Again, once we struggled on bars, we refocused and hit beam. Kids started to feel some positive energy moving forward. This group has done that all year. It was really good to see that floor squad do that.”

Anna Martucci (Clarkston, Mich./Our Lady of the Lakes) led the way for NIU and its floor team. The Huskie freshman placed, taking third with a 9.900, tying her career high, in her first MAC Championships.

“She’s amazing,” Morreale said of Martucci. “She had a great day today, beam and floor. She can just turn on in these kinds of situations. That will bode well for her in the future. Placing as a freshman, definitely helps her in her regional chase. We’ll see what happens.”

Martucci was one of five Huskies to score 9.800 or better on floor. Courtney Dowdell (Lynwood, Ill./Thornton Fractional South) tied her career high scoring a 9.875 despite having her music cutout in the middle of her routine. It was an interesting day for Dowdell. In addition to her music cutting out, she tripped on her approach to the vault. However, because she landed on the vault and didn’t go over, she was allowed another attempt. The Huskie junior posted a 9.725 and contributed to a 48.725 vault score. Megan Greenfield (Crystal Lake, Ill./Crystal Lake South) led the way, scoring a 9.800.

The Huskies dug themselves a hole early. NIU opened the meet on their strongest event, however, NIU struggled. The Huskies turned in an uncharacteristic 48.275, a season low. Senior Lauren Africano (Bourbonnais, Ill./Bradley-Bourbonnais Community) was the highest scoring Huskie, finishing her final MAC Championships with a 9.800. Ashley Potts (Oakwood Hills, Ill./Prairie Ridge) was right behind her with a 9.775. Potts scored a 39.050 as an all-around competitor.

NIU bounced back on its next event, the balance beam. The Huskies posted a 48.775, well above their regional qualifying average of 48.440. Katherine Prentice (Indianapolis, Ind./Roncalli) was the highest-scoring Huskie posting a 9.850, tying her career best. Martucci was solid on beam as well, scoring a 9.825.

Eastern Michigan won the team championship with a 196.425. The Huskies finished ahead of Western Michigan as the Broncos took seventh with a 194.900.

-NIU-