MUNCIE, Ind. – The Northern Illinois University gymnastics team put together its best meet of the season across all four events to earn its highest overall score of the season – and tie for the sixth-highest total in school history – in a 195.700-194.700 victory over Ball State Sunday in Worthen Arena.
 
"We had a good day," said NIU head coach Sam Morreale. "We put a four-event meet together, and the last time we did that was probably in the season opener at Alabama.  Last week we came close and today we kept getting better as the day progressed. Everyone worked really hard on being consistent, and they trust each other to get the job done."
 
For the second time this season, the NIU floor squad broke the school record for highest team total on that event as their total of 49.425 broke the mark of 49.375 set on January 27 in a tri-meet versus Bowling Green and UIC. All five NIU gymnasts scored a 9.850 or higher, led by anchor Anna Martucci (Clarkston, Mich./Our Lady of the Lakes HS), who scored a season-high 9.950 on a gorgeous routine to win the floor exercise. Freshman Tara Kofmehl (Mesa, Ariz./Red Mountain HS) contributed to the record-breaking total with her career-high score 9.900 on floor.
 
"We knocked it out of the park on floor," Morreale said. "It's no secret that's one of our best events, and the floor team is not done. They are driven to be even better.  Today, we tumbled really well. Tara got a huge score, for her to come through as a freshman was awesome to see.  Paige Nicholas started us off with a beautiful 9.85.  Anna was outstanding like she always is, we've come to expect those kind of routines from her."
 
After trailing Ball State through the first two events, the Huskies' floor domination allowed them to overtake Ball State en route to the win, thanks to a solid performance on beam in the fourth rotation.  
 
The Huskies had four scores of 9.700 or higher on beam and did not count a fall as they earned a 48.550, led by anchor Mia Lord (McCordsville, Ind./Hamilton Southeastern HS) who contributed a team-best 9.775 to take second place. While beam was the one event where NIU did not earn a season-high team score, Morreale said he was impressed with how the Huskies finished the meet on that apparatus.
 
"I'm super proud of how we finished on beam, coming off that big floor performance it was really important to follow that up like we did," Morreale said.  "Ball State is a good team and there was good competition.  It definitely came down to the last rotation. It is a conference meet so getting the win keeps our regular season MAC Championship goal alive."
 
NIU opened the meet with a season-high 48.900 score on uneven parallel bars as freshman Morgan Hooper (Lincoln, Neb./St. Pius X HS) scored a career-best 9.875 to tie for first. The Huskies scored a 48.825 on vault, another season-high, with sophomore Gabby Welch (Greenbrier, Tenn./Aaron Academy [Home School]) leading the way with a 9.800 and Kofmehl and Cinny Lamberti (Grayslake, Ill./Grayslake HS)both adding 9.775s.
 
The win over Ball State improves the Huskies' record 10-3 overall, 4-1 in the MAC.
 
NIU steps out of league play for the three meets as the Huskies take on UIC in Chicago next Sunday, then return to the NIU Convocation Center on Friday, March 1 to host Illinois State.
 
- NIU --