Women's Gymnastics | March 17

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. - The Northern Illinois University gymnastics team closed the 2024 regular season on Sunday with a score of 195.875 in a quad meet against Minnesota, West Virginia and Air Force in Minneapolis.

The hosts, 16-ranked Minnesota, won the meet with a score of 197.725, followed by WVU at 196.000. The Huskies' 195.875 mark out Air Force who scored a 195.125.

"We had a really good meet," head coach Sam Morreale said. "We've been talking about putting all four events together, and I feel like we did that today."

In the Huskies' floor rotation, NIU posted a 49.300 to tie the seventh best score in program history. The record of 49.475 was set in the Huskies home meet on Feb.25. Alana Anderson (Joliet, Ill./Joliet West HS) earned a 9.925 on floor to finish in third place.

"She (Alana) is talented and really good at what she does," Morreale said." "She has progressed over the last few weeks and just had little bobbles here and there. Today was her day as a leading scorer and as a lead off on an event is pretty impressive."

Alyssa Al-Ashari (Lansing, Mich./Grand Ledge) scored a 9.875 on bars and earned second place. Ellery Werner (Rhinelander.Wis./Rhinelander) posted a 9.900 on beam and finished in third place. Isabella Sissi (Blaine, Minn./Mounds View) scored a 39.225 which was good for a third-place all-around finish.

"I've been talking about our floor and beam scores all year," Morreale said. "So it's nice to see some of that hard work that is put in every day lead to that kind of performance."

The Huskies opened the meet on bars and posted a 48.625. Al-Ashari's 9.875 led NIU, while Isabella Sissi earned a 9.750.

Werner paced the Huskies through their beam rotation, as NIU posted a 49.000 and tied a season high. Al-Ashari and Sissi earned 9.800's in the second rotation.

NIU moved to the floor for the third rotation and got strong scores throughout. Anderson's 9.925 led the way and Emmalise Nock (Rosemount, Minn./Rosemount) followed with a 9.875.

The Huskies closed the meet on vault where Dawsyn Sallee and Jocelyn Harbeck's 9.800's led the Huskies to a 48.950.

The Huskies will be back in action at the Mid-American Conference Championships in Muncie, Indiana on Saturday, March 23.

-- NIU --