Gymnastics drops hard-fought match to UIC

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By Maddie Barrett

The gymnastics team lost to the the University of Illinois Chicago Flames Sunday in a head-to-head meet to fall to 10-4 on the season.

The Flames outscored the Huskies 195.500-193.975. Head Coach Sam Morreale said thinks the girls did a great job of hanging close in a tight loss.

“I think we did a great job of fighting, trying to get the next hit and doing what we could do give ourselves a good day,” Morreale said.

NIU started out strong on uneven parallel bars with a score of 48.825 but the Flames came out on top with a score of 49.200.

First-year Morgan Hooper led the Huskies placing fifth with a score of 9.825. Trailing close behind Hooper was senior Emily Basara with a score of 9.775. Morreale thinks that the girls started off strong.

“Confidence [is what contributed to their success] we did a really good job of starting and getting it done,” Morreale said. “We also had four good sticks, or landings which also helped out.”

On rotation two, the Huskies took on the vault. NIU was outscored by the Flames, with scores of 48.300 and 48.700 respectively.

Related: Gymnastics records highest score of the season

Junior Cinny Lamberti placed third with a score of 9.750, placing just under UIC senior Riley Mahoney with a score of 9.825. Flames sophomore Kayla Baddeley took first in the event with a score of 9.850.

On the floor exercise, the teams finished with a tie at a score of 48.825. Junior Allison Richardson placed first on floor with a score of 9.825. UIC junior Toni Alicke placed just under Richardson with a score of 9.800.

The Huskies fell short on the balance beam, dropping the event by a score of 48.775-48.025.

Sophomore Mia Lord placed first in the event with a score of 9.875. UIC senior Riley Mahoney placed just under Lord with a score of 9.775. The Huskies trailed after the final event to drop the meet to UIC 193.975-195.500

“These kids are working super hard, we’re in a really good place,” Morreale said. “Obviously this wasn’t one of our highest scores of the year but we see in our mistakes where we can get better. I think the girls are really gonna bring it this Friday to really send those seniors off.”

Seniors Emily Basara, Ally Ferber, Anna Martucci and Paige Nicholas are the seniors that will be sent off after the senior meet, this Friday.

 The Huskies are back in action 6 p.m. Friday in the Convocation Center against Illinois State University for their senior meet.