NORMAL, Ill. – With strong performances on uneven parallel bars, floor exercise and vault, the Northern Illinois University women's gymnastics team surpassed the 195 mark for the second time in the past three days – and the second time this season – at the Illinois State Quad Meet in Normal, Illinois Sunday.
 
Despite counting a miss on its last event, the balance beam, the Huskies took third in the meet with its 195.050 total behind first place Central Michigan (196.425) and host Illinois State (195.725). NIU earned a win over Lindenwood, who took fourth (194.800).
 
"This score definitely helps us in the overall scheme in that we get to replace a lower score with a 195 [in the National Qualifying Standards] for the rankings," said NIU head coach Sam Morreale. "Overall we are happy with the day, but we know there was more there on our last event and we weren't quite able to step up and do it.  We're not going to let it get us down, not going to dwell on the negative. We have two more chances to knock it out of the park and we this weekend was just more proof of what we're capable of."
 
The Huskies shined brightest on bars Sunday with freshman Alyssa Al-Ashari (Lansing, Mich./Grand Ledge HS) and sophomore Natalie Hamp (Ionia, Mich./Ionia HS) each earning a 9.875, sophomore Brookelyn Sears (Centerville, Ohio/Centerville HS) and junior Morgan Hooper (Lincoln, Neb./St. Pius X) scoring 9.850s and senior Lauren Gomes (Dix Hills, N.J./Commack HS) starting the rotation with a season-high 9.775.  NIU's 49.225 total is tied for the third highest bars team score in school history.
 
Senior Zoie Schroeder (Champlin, Minn./Champlin Park HS) earned the highest score of the day for NIU as she won the balance beam event with a career best 9.900. Overall, eight different Huskies recorded 10 scores of 9.800 or higher on the day, with multiple individuals boosting their chances of earning bids to the NCAA Regionals, according to Morreale.
 
"Several of the individuals that are trying to position themselves [for a regional bid] did well today," Morreale said. "We have a lot of kids stepping up and doing some super things and the team still has dreams and aspirations that we're chasing in these next two weeks. We're definitely still going in the right direction."
 
NIU opened the meet on floor exercise where juniors Tara Kofmehl (Mesa, Ariz./Red Mountain HS) and Nicolette DiPrisco (Aberdeen, N.J./Red Bank Catholic) paced the Huskies with scores of 9.850, while senior Gabby Welch (Greenbrier, Tenn./Aaron Academy) tied her career high with a 9.800.  Kofmehl and Welch also went 9.800 or higher on vault as Kofmehl tied her season high with a 9.825 to lead NIU and Welch tied her career best mark on vault with a 9.800.
 
Hooper posted her second all-around score of 39.000 or higher as she hit that number on the nose with four solid routines.
 
NIU (5-8, 3-3 MAC) takes on Iowa State in Ames, Iowa on Friday, March 12 in its final competition before the MAC Championships.  The meet begins at 6:30 p.m. and can be seen on ESPN+.   
 
-- NIU --