MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. – Junior Natalie Hamp (Ionia, Mich./Ionia HS) and sophomore Alana Anderson (Joliet, Ill./Joliet West HS) posted scores of 9.875 on uneven parallel bars and floor exercise, respectively, but the Northern Illinois University gymnastics team fell to Central Michigan, 195.425-193.600 Saturday in Mount Pleasant.
 
"We had a decent day, we saw some things we can build off of, but it certainly wasn't our best showing," said NIU head coach Sam Morreale. "We didn't help ourselves in some ways. It was a little bit of a frustrating day but it's also not always something we can control."
 
Five Huskies recorded season-high scores on their respective events while freshman Kiera O'Shea (Norridge, Ill./Ridgewood HS) and senior Jacklyn Dolitsky (Commack, N.Y./Commack HS) earned career high scores for their performances on vault and floor exercise, respectively. O'Shea had NIU's top score on vault with a 9.775 to tie for third in the meet, while Dolitsky scored a 9.700 to contribute to the Huskies' season high team score of 48.875 on floor.
 
"Kiera had a great vault," Morreale said. "Jack [Dolitsky] has done a great job working her way into the line-up as a senior. She's earned that spot today and did a great job."
 
Anderson led the way for NIU on floor with a 9.875 to tie for fourth, Ciara Ryan (Crystal Lake, Ill./Crystal Lake South HS) and Isabella Sissi (Blaine, Minn./Mounds View HS) each scored a 9.775 with Olivia Lynd (West Chester, Ohio/Ursuline Academy) adding a season-high 9.750. Sissi totaled an all-around score of 38.700 to finish second.
 
Hamp took second on uneven parallel bars with her 9.875, while Brookelyn Sears (Centerville, Ohio/Centerville HS) tied for third with a 9.825. The Huskies totaled a 48.450 on bars.
 
Despite season high scores of 9.775 by sophomore Ellery Werner (Rhinelander, Wis./Rhinelander HS) and 9.725 by junior Kendall George (Westerville, Ohio/Westerville Central HS) on balance beam, NIU was forced to count a fall and totaled a score of just 48.000 on beam. Werner took second on beam with her score while Sissi placed third on beam with a mark of 9.750.
 
"We didn't have a horrible day, we didn't have a great day," Morreale said. "We have to get better on beam. I thought we were a little nervous. This isn't who we are, but we have to get back at it. We have to get into a meet and hit on all cylinders." 
 
The Huskies, who have just one win at Central Michigan in its last eight trips to Mount Pleasant, fell to 1-2 on the year, 1-1 in the Mid-American Conference. NIU next faces Illinois State in a dual meet in Normal, Illinois on Friday, January 25 at 7 p.m. The Huskies then return home on Sunday, January 29 for a tri-meet versus the Cardinals and Winona State at 2 p.m. in the NIU Convocation Center.
 
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