Women's Gymnastics | January 19

Nashville, Tenn. – The Northern Illinois University Gymnastics Team earned the highest score in program history with a 196.400 on Friday at the Tennessee Collegiate Classic Meet against Fisk and Lindenwood.

NIU's score of 196.400 topped the team's previous record of 196.350, which was set on March 13, 2022 at Eastern Michigan. The Huskies also set a new school record on vault with a team score of 49.150, breaking the mark of 49.100 set February 24, 2017, in a Quad Meet at Kentucky.

"I'm super happy with how the team performed," said NIU head coach Sam Morreale. "We didn't have the greatest warm up and the team really shook that off and came out and competed really well. It was a great step in the direction we want to go as we prepare to come home and get back in the MAC."

Sophomore Kiera O'Shea (Norridge, Ill./Ridgewood) led the Huskies on vault with a 9.900, which tied for the fourth highest vault score in NIU history.

"She has been training very well and it's nice and fun to see them do it when it counts," Morreale said. "I'm very happy and proud of her, fourth all time on vault is very impressive. This is a testament to all of her work."

All six gymnasts in the vault lineup O'Shea, Samatha Nickle (Yorktown, Va./York), Isabella Ross (Cary, N.C./Green Level) Emmalise Nock (Rosemount, Minn./Rosemount), Dawsyn Sallee (Versailles, Ky./Woodford County) and Isabella Sissi (Blaine, Minn./Mounds View) scored at least a 9.700. Four of the six scores reached at least 9.800.

NIU moved to the bars on its second rotation and where senior Alyssa Al-Ashari (Lansing, Mich./Grand Ledge) tied her career high with a 9.925. That score was also good for fourth best in program history. Sophomore Hannah Drielick added a 9.825 and O'Shea scored a 9.775 to back up Al-Ashari.

The Huskies then went to the beam and Alyssa Al-Ashari once again led the Huskies with a 9.850 while Sissi, who competed in the all-around for the first time on the season, added a 9.825.  

NIU wrapped up the meet on floor exercise as freshman Sallee recorded a career high 9.925, tied for the eighth highest floor score in Huskie history. A 49.475 overall floor exercise score also ranks tied for eighth at NIU all-time.

"The team trusted each other today and believed in themselves," Morreale said. "We have been chasing that top vault score for a couple years now and it's nice to get over that hump. On floor we did very well, but left just a little bit out there so it will be nice to continue to build off of that."

Overall, in the meet Al-Ashari's 9.925 was the meet's highest on bars. O'Shea's 9.900 on vault was the second highest and Sallee's 9.925 was the second best on floor. Sissi also finished third in the all-around with a 39.225.

The Huskies' score of 196.400, put them ahead of Fisk with 193.400 and behind Lindenwood's 197.075 which won the meet.

NIU will have their home opening meet on Sunday, Jan. 28 at 2 p.m. in the NIU Convocation Center as the Huskies will take on Mid-American Conference foes Central Michigan
and Eastern Michigan.  Admission is free.

-- NIU --