DES MOINES, Iowa – Junior Alyssa Al-Ashari (Lansing, Mich./Grand Ledge HS) took first place on the uneven parallel bars and balance beam to lead the Northern Illinois University women's gymnastics team to its second consecutive strong early-season showing Saturday night.  The Huskies' score of 194.675 was two-tenths behind Iowa State's 194.875 as ISU overtook NIU in the final rotation at the Iowa Events Center in Des Moines, Iowa.
 
"I'm super happy with our performance today," said NIU head coach Sam Morreale. "Obviously we did a lot of things well and It's a good day when you can get the hits that we did. Our goal is 24 for 24 (hit routines) and we were 22 for 24. We're still chasing that 195 and we are a 49-plus team on balance beam, bars and floor, so we know we left some tenths out there."  
 
NIU opened the meet on one of its strongest events, uneven parallel bars, where the Huskies lived up to expectations with a 48.875 score, led by Al-Ashari's career high 9.900, one of just two scores of 9.900 or higher by either team in the meet. Senior Natalie Hamp (Ionia, Mich./Ionia HS) posted a 9.825 to tie for second on bars while Brookelyn Sears (Centerville, Ohio/Centerville HS) scored a 9.750 and senior Ciara Ryan (Crystal Lake, Ill./Crystal Lake South HS) tied her career high on the event with a 9.700.
 
"Alyssa had two great routines," Morreale said. "The great thing about bars is Alyssa, Natalie and Brookelyn, all three can go 9.9 on any given week and all three are going to push each other.
I thought bars overall we swung as well as we did last week, On vault we stepped up, we vaulted a little bit better [than week one]."  
 
NIU tallied its best score of the young season on vault, led by sophomore Emmalise Nock (Rosemount, Minn./Rosemount HS) whose 9.775 tied for third. All six Huskies recorded scores of 9.675 or higher on the night with sophomores Jenna Blair (9.675) and Emma Brkljacic (9.725) each setting new career highs on vault. The Huskies took a 97.525-96.700 lead following the second rotation.
 
Nock scored a 9.875 on floor exercise from her anchor position to tie for second while Isabella Sissi (Blaine, Minn./Mounds View HS) added a 9.775 to her all-around score. The Huskies' 48.525 total was its season high as NIU entered the final rotation with a .200 lead, 146.050-145.850 after Iowa State totaled a 49.150 on balance beam.
 
The Huskies closed out the meet on balance beam for the first time this season and saw five of six gymnasts hit their routines, led by Al-Ashari and Sissi, who scored a 9.850 to tie for third. She finished with a score of 39.050 in the all-around, her second straight week with a 39-plus all-around score.
 
"I thought we finished great on balance beam which we are going to need to do going forward," Morreale said. "Emmalise to go 9.875 on floor is where she and Isabella [Sissi] can be every week. Sissi gets another solid all-around score with a 39.050. Once again, she's a good gymnast who just goes out and hits."
 
While the Huskies 48.625 on beam did not include a miss, Iowa State's 49.025 mark on floor exercise was enough to overtake NIU for the win. NIU is 1-1 on the season, while Iowa State won its opener.
 
NIU next returns to Mid-American Conference competition next Saturday, January 21, when they travel to Mount Pleasant, Michigan to take on Central Michigan at 1 p.m.
 
-- NIU --
 
Twitter: @NIUAthletics
Facebook: NIU Huskies
Instagram: niuhuskies
YouTube: NIU Athletics