Women's Gymnastics | February 25

DeKALB, Ill. ­– It was an afternoon of personal bests for the Northern Illinois University gymnastics team, on Sunday, as it picked up the second Mid-American Conference win of the season against Ball State, 195.375-195.200, with the ninth highest team score, and senior Ashley Potts (Oakwood Hills, Ill./Prairie Ridge) recorded a 9.950 to tie the uneven parallel bars school record.
 
"We keep pulling our score up," said NIU head coach Sam Morreale. "That's what we're chasing. It's a little bitter sweet, because we stumbled a little on bars. Truth be told, I couldn't be happier with the way we came back and pulled off the win."
 
Potts also tied her career high floor score of 9.800. She went on to score a 9.800 on vault and a 9.750 on the balance beam to round out a first-place all-around score of 39.300.
 
"I say the same thing every week about her," said Morreale of the all-arounder. "Potts is just Potts. She's just really really good. She's really talented, she works her butt off every-single day, so it's one of those things where she's a mix of talent and hard work. You don't get those a lot, so she's just super fun to coach. She's a great leader, and she's still got more in the tank. Her best is out there."
 
The event of the day for the Huskies was floor, where they earned a cumulative 49.275, tying the second highest score in school history. Junior Anna Martucci (Clarkston, Mich./Our Lady of the Lakes) anchored the event with a 9.925 to tie her career best and the third highest individual floor score at NIU. Katherine Prentice (Indianapolis, Ind./Roncalli) tied her best and Allison Richardson (Marysville, Ohio/Marysville) set hers, as they each added a 9.850 to the tally, while Amanda Bartemio (Plymouth, Minn./Wayzata) tied her career best and Paige Nicholas (Cleveland, Ohio/Lutheran West) set her career high, rounding out the total with two 9.825 scores.
 
Four more gymnasts set personal bests including Cinny Lamberti (Grayslake, Ill./Grayslake) on beam with a 9.800, Gabby Welch (Greenbrier, Tenn./Aaron Academy [Home School]) on vault with a 9.775, Nina Martucci (Clarkston, Mich./Our Lady of the Lakes) on bars as an exhibitionist with a 9.800 and Emily Basara (Gurnee, Ill./Warren Township) as a exhibitionist on floor with a 9.750.
 
Bartemio also earned a 9.825 on bars and Nicholas earned a 9.750 on beam to post their top marks, while Welch tied her best score on floor as an exhibition performer earning a 9.700.
 
The beauty with these kids is the depth," said Morreale. "We can keep throwing people in.  We had a ton or career highs today, and they earned them."
 
Next Sunday, March 4, Huskie fans have another chance to come out and support the gymnastics team as it hosts Western Michigan and celebrates Senior Night as well as all gymnastics alumni that choose to participate.
 
-NIU-