Gymnastics finished its season strong, but it wasn’t good enough to win the MAC Championships.

The Huskies placed fourth with a score of 194.15 at the MAC Championships Saturday at the EMU Convocation Center in Ypsilanti, Mich. No. 18 Central Michigan won the meet with a score of 196.475. CMU has won the MAC Championships five years in a row.

Despite the loss, NIU did have some positives come away from the meet. Sophomore Jaelyn Olsen was named MAC Specialist of the Year for her performances on vault and beam this season.

NIU was put in a hole early when it scored 48.275 on vault, which tied for its lowest team vault score this season. Olsen led the team with a 9.775, but that was only the 10th-highest individual score in the meet.

The 48.275 was the lowest score of the day for the Huskies, who increased their scores in every event.

“We had a bit of a slow start on vault and there was tight scoring early, which we knew there would be,” said head coach Sam Morreale, according to a news release. “The kids shrugged it off like they have all year and moved along. They continued to fight, and that’s been the story of this team and this season. It’s bittersweet for the seniors. I can’t thank them enough. They wanted what I wanted for this program, and they moved us forward.”

Amanda Lievendag of Bowling Green and Marie Case of Kent State tied for first with a score of 9.85. Central Michigan won the event with a 49.

The Huskies began to dig themselves out of their hole on uneven bars, scoring 48.425, despite an uncharacteristic 9.425 from senior Megan Melendez. Sophomore Natalie Amadio led the team with a 9.8, while senior Kim Gotlund and sophomore Lauren Africano had a 9.75.

Central Michigan put together the strongest uneven bars performance, with five of its gymnasts scoring in the top 10. CMU’s Kylie Fagan won the event with a 9.95, the highest individual score in any event at the meet.

Despite uneven scoring from the judges, the Huskies still managed solid scores on beam, earning a 48.575. Melendez led the team in the event with a 9.775. Her scores ranged from 9.7 to a 9.85.

Olsen and Gotlund tied right behind her with a score of 9.725. Both of their scores from the judges varied dramatically, with Olsen’s ranging from 9.6 to 9.8 and Gotlund’s ranging from 9.65 to 9.8.

“On beam, we weren’t perfect, but we had one of our better meets,” Morreale said, according to a news release. “It was tough to get a score. I thought we had some excellent routines.”

Kent State’s Case won the individual beam award with a 9.9. Central Michigan’s Taylor Noonan took second with a 9.875. The Chippewas also won the event with a team score of 48.975.

Needing a strong floor routine to put them over the top, the Huskies came through, scoring a 48.875, their highest event score of the day. Junior Amanda Stepp led the way with a 9.85, which tied her for third overall. Gotlund finished her regular season career with a 9.825, which was her highest score in any event this season. Junior Peyton Taylor also had a strong routine, earning a 9.8.

Ball State’s Denasiha Christian won the event with a 9.925, while Taylor Bolender of Central Michigan placed second with a 9.9. Kent State and CMU tied for first with a 49.025.