Women's Gymnastics | February 17
DeKALB, Ill. – Another record setting meet for the Northern Illinois University gymnastics team (9-2, 4-1) earns the Huskies seventh win at home over Eastern Michigan University (4-3, 2-1), 195.525-195.325, concluding the home season at the Convocation Center, Friday.
The Huskies all-around team total marked the fourth best score in school history. NIU also finished the night with the second highest floor score in the record book with the 49.250 mark.
Brittany Wenzel (Hilliard, Ohio/Davidson),
Katherine Prentice (Indianapolis, Ind./Roncalli) and
Courtney Dowdell (Lynwood, Ill./Thornton Fractional South) tied for first on floor, each earning 9.875.
"They did a really good job today putting it all together," said NIU head coach
Sam Morreale. "By no means were we perfect, but we were good, and that's the key. We hit more times than they did. The score is what we were chasing, and I think this is where we're going to hover the rest of the season, as long as we get the job done. Hopefully, down the road we can knock it out of the park and build on this score some more.
"This year we're doing a really good job of just staying within ourselves, worrying about what we can worry about and not watching the other team. Our goal is to hit our routines and make them chase us."
The Huskies started the meet off on vault with a team total of 48.725. The whole vault squad score 9.700 or better with a key run from freshman
Cinny Lamberti (Grayslake, Ill./Grayslake), who earned a career high 9.775
NIU went on to uneven parallel bars where they shined once again earning its second highest score of the season with a 49.125. Senior
Jamyra Carter (Ypsilanti, Mich./Huron) recorded her fourth school record tying herself for the third time at 9.900 and earning first on the event.
"She does it day in and day out in practice," said Morreale of Carter. "For her to get into competition and hit 9.900, it's not a surprise, and that's part of the enjoyment. That's just who she is. Today just showed her consistency."
The third event for the night was balance beam where all-around performers Prentice and
Ashley Potts hit 9.775 and 9.750, respectively. The pair tied for first as all-around competitors earning 39.150. Prentice rounded out her career high score with a 9.725 on vault and 9.775 on uneven parallel bars, while Potts earned a 9.750 on vault, 9.850 on bars and a season high 9.800 on floor.
"The all-arounders are our solid base on every event, and they are getting it done," said Morreale. "They did a great job tonight. Any and every thing counts, and they are the ones who we look to hit."
The Huskies compete next Friday, February 24 at Kentucky competing against the host school, Washington and Illinois. The competition begins at 6 p.m. CST.
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