Women's Gymnastics | January 13

Bowling Green, Ohio - The Northern Illinois University gymnastics team defeated the Bowling Green Falcons Saturday in Bowling Green in the team's first Mid-American Conference contest of 2024.

The Huskies (1-2-1, 1-0 MAC) posted a season-high score of 194.050 to Bowling Green's (0-2, 0-1 MAC) 193.000.

"I'm super excited, it was a much better day for us," said NIU head coach Sam Morreale. "We built on what we did last week, and we had a 24 for 24, which means every kid who had a chance to count, hits. That is something we strive for. We did a lot of things better today than we did last week. Overall, I'm super happy about the progress."

The Huskies bounced back from last week's quad-meet at Missouri where the team finished with 192.775 and in a tie for third place.  

"We had a little better energy today than last week," Morreale said. "I don't think we weren't ready last week but we just didn't have a good day. We all know we are better than last week, and they stepped up and improved."

Senior Alyssa Al-Ashari (Lansing, Mich. / Grand Ledge) scored a 9.850 on bars which was good for the highest in the meet.

"Bars and beam are events where Alyssa will challenge to be at the top of the leader board every week," Morreale said. "I think she is still just scratching the surface on those two events on what she is able to accomplish. It's something she can continue to build on and improve as well."

The Huskies started the day on uneven bars and were paced by Al-Ashari with a meet leading 9.850. Sophomore Hannah Drielick (Tampa, Fla. / Sunlake) scored a 9.775, good for third place overall.

NIU then moved on to the vault where sophomore Kiera O'Shea (Norridge, Ill. / Ridgewood) scored a 9.800 and tied for second place. The Huskies took the lead after the second rotation as they outscored BGSU 48.775 to 47.450 following completion of the vault and bars events.

In the third rotation, the Huskies moved to the floor exercise where they extended their lead, scoring 48.550 to the Falcons' 48.375 on balance beam. Junior Emmalise Nock (Rosemount, Minn./Rosemount) and freshman Mikayla Brown (Suwanee, Ga./Peachtree Ridge) led the way for the floor squad with scores of 9.775 to tie for second.

NIU closed out the meet and sealed the win on the balance beam. Al-Ashari, Samantha Nickle (Yorktown, Va. / York) and Brown each scored a 9.750. Senior Olivia Lynd (West Chester, Ohio/Ursuline Academy) competed in the exhibition slot and scored a 9.775.

NIU will prepare to head to Nashville and compete in the USA Invitational on Friday, January 19. NIU will be one of six teams competing at the event.

-- NIU --