Women's Gymnastics | February 14

MUNCIE, Ind. – Three Northern Illinois University gymnasts claimed individual event victories and junior Tara Kofmehl (Mesa, Ariz./Red Mountain HS) won the all-around title with a career-high score for the second time this week as the Huskies wrapped up a double meet week in Muncie, Indiana Sunday with a 195.275-193.350 loss to Ball State.
 
Kofmehl earned the highest score of the meet with a 9.900 to win floor exercise and finish off a career best 39.150 all-around score. The junior's day included a career and season high 9.800 on bars, a season-best 9.700 on balance beam and a 9.750 on vault.
 
"Tara is so steady," said NIU head coach Sam Morreale. "She trains super hard, she has the difficulty level on all four events and it's great to see her step out there and get it done in competition. I'm really happy to see her getting these results."   
 
Senior Gabby Welch (Greenbrier, Tenn./Aaron Academy) led the Huskies with a 9.825 to win vault, while Zoie Schroeder (Champlin, Minn./Champlin Park HS) earned a 9.825 to tie for first on balance beam. Sophomore Brookelyn Sears (Centerville, Ohio/Centerville HS) led the Huskies on bars with a 9.825 to tie for second; Mia Lord's (Fishers, Ind./Hamilton Southeastern HS) 9.800 on beam gave her a third-place finish, and Nicolette DiPrisco (Aberdeen, N.J./Red Bank Catholic HS) scored a career high 9.825 to take third on floor exercise.
 
NIU head coach Sam Morreale saw bright spots from his team as they continue to look for a meet in which all six gymnasts hit their routines on all four events.
 
"We're just missing on consistency and getting it done across the board when it matters," Morreale said. "We're working hard, training hard and we know what we can be. Today we counted a miss on bars and on beam, two of our strongest events, and then had a really good day on vault. We're a team where we have to put all 24 routines together. Once we figure that piece out, we'll be alright."
  
As a team, the Huskies scored a season-high 48.775 on vault and combined for a 48.500 on floor exercise. NIU counted falls on both bars and beam and totaled scores of 48.075 and 48.000 on those events, respectively.   
 
The Cardinals remained undefeated on the season as they improved to 11-0, 4-0 in the Mid-American Conference while the Huskies fell to 2-4, 2-2.
 
NIU is next in action on Friday, February 19 as the Huskies take on Eastern Michigan in a dual meet beginning at 6 p.m. at the NIU Convocation Center. The game will be streamed on Huskie All-Access on NIUHuskies.com.
 
-- NIU --