ST. CHARLES, Mo. – The Northern Illinois University gymnastics team matched its highest score of the season in a 195.950-195.050 win over Lindenwood Sunday while improving its overall record to 8-3 on the year. Huskie gymnasts took first place in three of four events, while all-arounder Isabella Sissi tied her career high with a 39.225 to earn the all-around crown.
 
"We had a great day," said NIU head coach Sam Morreale. "We really want to use these three season-ending [road] meets to get ready and right for the MAC Championships, so to tie our highest score of the year is right where we want to be. Our leadoff kids did a great job of setting the tone and getting us going on all four events today. We had a few mistakes along the way, but this team does a great job of getting past those missteps when something does go wrong."  
 
The Huskie bars team led off the meet by tying their season best score with a 49.125. Natalie Hamp continued her outstanding senior season with her fifth 9.900 score of the season while winning the event for the sixth time in nine meets this year. She was backed up by Alyssa Al-Ashari's 9.850 which tied for third. Freshman Samantha Nickle posted a career high 9.800, which was matched by Brookelyn Sears, while Isabella Sissi tied her season best score on the event with a 9.775.
 
Sophomore Emma Brkljacic led the way for NIU on vault with a career high 9.800 to finish second. Sissi and Isabelle West each scored 9.750 on their vaults to tie for fourth as NIU totaled a 48.750 on vault. After two rotations, NIU held a slim .075 lead over the Lions, 97.875-97.800.
 
"Bars got back to where we expect them to be, tying their season high," Morreale said. "Natalie finished it off with a 9.900 and Alyssa would have been right there except for one little wobble. Emma has a great vault in the air. It's really clean and she's working to find the landing because [the vault] is so big."
 
NIU extended its lead with a strong performance on floor exercise with the final three competitors all scoring 9.850 or higher, contributing to the Huskies' second highest floor score of the season at 49.100. Anchor Emmalise Nock tied for first with a 9.900, her third score of 9.900 or higher on the season and third floor exercise win. Senior Jacklyn Dolitsky earned a career best 9.850 as did Sissi as they both tied for fourth. With hits throughout the line-up, NIU extended its lead to 146.925-146.175 heading into the final rotation.  
 
The Huskies' beam team sealed the win by totaling a solid 48.975. Sissi followed up her 9.850 on floor exercise by tying her career high with a 9.850 on balance beam to take second place, behind only NIU anchor Alyssa Al-Ashari whose 9.900 was good for the win. Al-Ashari's 9.900 was her second score of 9.9 or higher this season. Kendall George added a 9.775 to tie for third on beam.
 
"We had a really good floor run and I'll take our beam squad against anyone, they get it done," Morreale said. "They are very deduction-less. Alyssa finishing the meet with a 9.9 to put at that 195.950 mark was great."
 
With scores of 9.850 on both floor exercise and balance beam in the last two rotations, added to a 9.775 on bars and a 9.750 on vault, Sissi matched her previous season and career high, set on February 12 at Ball State.
 
"Sissi is realy good at what she does, she is just super consistent," Morreale said. "She's really good at knowing what she can and can't do and she rises up when the judges hand goes up. I see that extending to the rest of the team too."
 
NIU is on the road again next week as the Huskies close out their MAC regular season schedule at Western Michigan Saturday at 3 p.m.
 
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