Women's Gymnastics | January 29
DeKALB, Ill. – The Northern Illinois University gymnastics team (6-2, 1-1) earned their ninth win over Kent State (3-5, 1-2) in school history with a close 194.425-194.375 final score to take first, Sunday. Southeast Missouri State (0-5) took third with a 190.500 final score.
"We're still chasing, not to match that first week, but to just build off that performance where we hit all four events," said NIU head coach
Sam Morreale. "That's the thing that's escaping us. We just need to clean up the little stuff, and hopefully, we can take this as a positive and move forward."
The Huskies started the day on vault scoring 48.550 with both all-around performers hitting person highs.
Katherine Prentice (Indianapolis, Ind./Roncalli) earned a 9.750 on the event, while
Ashley Potts (Oakwood Hills, Ill./Prairie Ridge) pushed for a 9.825 tying for first place.
NIU went on to score a high for the day on uneven parallel bars with a total of 48.875, where senior
Jamyra Carter (Ypsilanti, Mich./Huron) took first with a 9.850 mark. Prentice set a second personal record on the event recording a 9.775.
Working their way back to week one, the Huskies recorded a 48.400 on the balance beam in their third event of the competition. Junior Potts saw success again on the balance beam earning second place for a personal best 9.875 and recording the team's highest mark for the season on the event. Senior
Taylor Crumley (Lincolnshire, Ill./Adlai E. Steenson) also set a personal record tying for sixth to earn 9.800.
The Huskies finished the afternoon on floor securing the win with a team total event score of 48.600 where sophomore
Anna Martucci (Clarkston, Mich./Our Lady of the Lakes) set a 9.850 personal season high.
"I thought we learned a lot just finishing the meet. We needed to have a good floor run, and we did. Hopefully, we'll be able to take some from that. The beauty of this sport is that every mistake is a chance to learn. That's the mountain we want to keep climbing."
Potts tied for first with SEMO standout Alexis Brawner as all-around competitors. The pair each totaled scores of 39.000 for the day.
"Potts is one of those rare gymnasts who, as a junior, has come into her own," said Morreale. "She's always been a non-frazzled competitor, but she's on fire. She's kicked in. She's just getting it done, but she does it every day. Her success today was not a surprise."
Huskie fans can catch the gymnastics team at home again on Friday, February 3 at the Convocation Center. Admission to all NIU gymnastics home competitions is free to spectators, so come support your Huskie gymnasts!
-NIU-
