Women's Gymnastics | February 24

CHICAGO – The Northern Illinois University women's gymnastics team posted scores of 48 or higher on all four events, but were outscored by the UIC Flames, 195.500-193.975 Sunday in a dual meet at the Dorin Forum in Chicago.
 
"I thought overall we had a pretty good meet," said NIU Head Coach Sam Morreale. "Vault-wise, we were a little low and score-wise, we didn't score, but we were still in the 48s on all four events which is a positive thing. When you can have not your best day and still be almost a 194, that's not bad.  We hit all our vaults, we tumbled well [on floor], just didn't see the scores. We didn't finish very strong on beam, but after a couple of falls, the next three [gymnasts] got up and hit which was great to see."
 
NIU (10-4) trailed the Flames on three of four events, with the two teams tying on floor exercise with a 48.825. Junior Allison Richardson (Marysville, Ohio/Marysville HS) scored a 9.825 to win the event, with senior Ally Ferber (Woodbury, N.Y./Syosset HS) coming in at 9.775 to rank second on the team.
 
The Huskies also scored a 48.825 on their first event of the day, the uneven parallel bars, with freshman Morgan Hooper (Lincoln, Neb./St. Pius X HS) topping the team with a 9.825 to place fifth overall, followed closely by Amanda Bartemio (Plymouth, Minn./Wayzata HS) and Emily Basara (Gurnee, Ill./Warren Township HS) who posted matching 9.775s.
 
NIU's Mia Lord (McCordsville, Ind./Hamilton Southeastern HS) earned the highest score by a Huskie gymnast on the day with her 9.875 to win the balance beam event and close out the meet.  Despite counting a fall on beam, the Huskies still managed to come in with a 48.025 as Richardson, Cinny Lamberti (Grayslake, Ill./Grayslake HS) preceded Lord with solid routines.
 
"It's hard to be upset [with a 193.975]," Morreale said.  "Still, we feel and we know we can do more.  The good thing is we've got four more opportunities. This week starts senior week for us and we're going to do our best to send them out on a high note."
 
Richardson had one of the best overall days by a Huskie, and of her season with scores of 9.750 on bars, 9.775 on beam and 9.825 on floor.   
 
"She's put some solid meets together now back to back," Morreale said. "It's not a surprise and it's great to see her getting back into the swing of it."
 
After three consecutive road meets, the Huskies return to the NIU Convocation Center on Friday, March 1 for a Senior Day meet versus Illinois State. The action gets underway at 6 p.m. and admission is free.
 
Tickets are also on sale now for the 2019 Mid-American Conference Gymnastics Championships which NIU will host at the Convocation Center on Saturday, March 23 at 2 p.m. All seven MAC teams will compete for the title.  Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for youth with NIU students admitted free.  For tickets, click here.
 
-- NIU --