Women's Gymnastics | February 18

Ypsilanti, Mich. - The Northern Illinois University gymnastics team scored 194.600 but came up short of host Eastern Michigan's score of 195.525 in Sunday's meet.

After a slow start on uneven parallel bars, the Huskies finished with solid scores on the final three events of the meet.

"We had a rough start on the first event," head coach Sam Morreale said. "I thought we did a good job and was proud of how the team bounced back on the final three events to finish the meet."

NIU (4-8-1, 1-4 MAC) performed well across the final three rotations, starting on vault where the Huskies scored a 49.100 in the second rotation. Sophomore Kiera O'Shea (Norridge, Ill / Ridgewood) scored a 9.900 to pace the Huskies and claim the event win while freshman Dawsyn Sallee (Versailles, Ky. / Woodford County) scored a 9.850 and placed second, while Isabella Sissi's 9.825 was good for third.

"Kiera had a very good vault," Morreale said." It was her second meet in a row with a strong score, and if she wants to qualify for regionals, these are the scores, she needs to put up there."

The Huskies posted a 48.900 on floor and were led by strong performances from Alana Anderson (Joliet, Ill. / Joliet West), who tied for first with a 9.825. Mikayla Brown (Suwanee,
Ga./Peachtree Ridge) recorded a 9.800 to place third.

The Huskies closed the meet with the highest team beam score of the season of 49.000.  Sissi (Blaine, Minn. / Mounds View) and Alyssa Al-Ashari (Lansing, Mich. / Grand Ledge) each earned a score of 9.850 to tie for second. Senior Olivia Lynd (West Chester, Ohio/Ursuline Academy) scored a season high 9.825.

The Huskies return home Sunday, February 25 at 12 p.m. as the Huskies will host Illinois State, Wisconsin-Eau Claire and Alaska Anchorage in a quad meet at the NIU Convocation Center.

-- NIU --