CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Northern Illinois University senior Tara Kofmehl (Mesa, Ariz./Red Mountain HS) won floor exercise and the Huskies got strong individual event performances from freshman Ellery Werner (Rhinelander, Wis./Rhinelander HS) on balance beam and Natalie Hamp (Ionia, Mich./Ionia HS) on uneven parallel bars to provide the bright spots as NIU posted an overall score of 194.475 to finish fourth at the Illinois Quad Meet Friday night.
 
Illinois won the meet with a score of 197.125, followed by Boise State (196.550) and Central Michigan (196.275) as NIU's record fell to 9-10 on the season with one dual meet remaining before the MAC Championships on Saturday, March 19 in Ypsilanti, Michigan.
 
"We saw the same thing we've seen most of the year," said NIU head coach Sam Morreale. "We had some bright spots, but overall, there were too many misses and too many mistakes.  We gave away tenths here and there and, especially at this time of year, that is going to hurt.  It's disappointing not to be the team we know we are, not to see the team we see in practice every day."
 
Kofmehl tied her career high with a 9.925 on floor exercise to take the title on that event as NIU scored a 48.975 on floor, it's highest event score of the meet.  On balance beam, Werner's 9.850 tied her career high and was followed by a 9.800 from senior Morgan Hooper (Lincoln, Neb./St. Pius X HS). Hooper again put together four solid routines to total a 38.975 in the all-around competition and finish third.
 
"Morgan has always trained hard, she works hard every day," Morreale said. "I think as a senior, she's settling in and enjoying her last go-around instead of pushing too hard and putting pressure on herself. It's great to see."
 
On bars, NIU's first event of the meet, Hamp posted a 9.875 to lead the Huskies which was preceded by a 9.850 by fellow junior Brookelyn Sears (Centerville, Ohio/Centerville HS). Sears had NIU's top score on vault with a 9.775.
 
The Huskies make the first of two trips to Eastern Michigan next weekend with a dual match versus the Eagles at 1 p.m.
 
-- NIU --