ST. CHARLES, Mo. ­– The Northern Illinois University gymnastics team returns with another win under its belt over Lindenwood, 195.025-193.600, at the GymQuarters Invitational on Friday. The Huskies matched up against No. 18 Minnesota for the second time this season but came up short as the Gophers earned a 195.725.
 
"I'm really happy with our performance," said NIU head coach Sam Morreale. "They hit all four events, and we are super pleased about that. We scored another 195.000 on the road, and that's not a bad place to be."
 
The Huskies won the floor event with the high score of 48.900 as junior Anna Martucci (Clarkston, Mich./Our Lady of the Lakes) anchored with a 9.850 and was followed by sophomore Amanda Bartemio (Plymouth, Minn./Wayzata) and senior Katherine Prentice (Indianapolis, Ind./Roncalli) adding a pair of 9.800 marks.
 
Prentice tied her career-high balance beam score of 9.875, with the highest on the team, while senior Ashley Potts (Oakwood Hills, Ill./Prairie Ridge) and sophomore Allison Richardson (Marysville, Ohio/Marysville) scored a 9.825, each, adding to the team's cumulative 48.800 on the event.
 
Potts was the team leader on the uneven parallel bars earning her career-high, 9.900, for the third time. Prentice recorded a 9.800, while Richardson hit a 9.775, earning the Huskies their second highest team score of the afternoon at 48.825.
 
"The seniors are really stepping up when it's their turn to shine," said Morreale. "It speaks to their preparation. This team wants to do well, and they want to set records."
 
The Huskies finished the afternoon on vault with sophomore Cinny Lamberti (Crystal Lake, Ill./Crystal Lake) tying Potts and Bartemio with a 9.775 on the event. The trio led the squad as they earned a 48.500. Potts' vault rounded out her first-place 39.175 in the all-around competition, sneaking past a Minnesota competitor with a 39.150.
 
The Huskies return home for the next two weekends as they host Ball State on Sunday, February 25 and Western Michigan the following Sunday, March 4. Admission is FREE for all home gymnastics meets.
 
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-NIU-