Gymnastics broke the 195 team score mark during spring break as it closed out its regular season.

The Huskies (8-8, 3-4 MAC) put together a strong performance at the Eagle Invitational March 8 in Ypsilanti, Mich., scoring a 195.1 to win the quad-meet. The 195.1 is the second-highest team score in the program’s history.

The Huskies followed up the win with a loss to Arizona State (8-6) Friday in Tempe, Ariz., 196.175-195. Despite the loss, the meet marked the first time gymnastics has scored 195 or higher twice in a season.

At the Eagle Invitational, NIU bested Eastern Michigan, Air Force and Temple, which scored 194.9, 193.9 and 191.575, respectively.

Heading into the last rotation, the Huskies were behind the Eagles, but their performances on vault secured their victory.

Sophomore Jaelyn Olsen continued her great season on vault with a score of 9.9, giving her the fourth-highest vault score in NIU gymnastics history. It was the first time since 2004 an NIU gymnast scored a 9.9 on vault.

Senior Megan Melendez tied with senior Natasha Jufko with a score of 9.875 on beam placing them ahead of the Eagles’ Anna Willette, who scored 9.85.

NIU won three events. The Huskies (48.450) were only outscored on bars by Eastern Michigan (48.625) and Air Force (48.500).

Melendez was the bright spot, scoring 9.75 to tie for third with Kelsie Brooks of Eastern Michigan and Air Force’s Linnaea Hance and Lindsay Ebel.

The Huskies wrapped up their season against No. 22 Arizona State, which proved to be another tough opponent.

The Sun Devils scored a 196.175, which was the second highest score faced by NIU since it began the year at No. 9 Nebraska, who scored a 196.625.

Head coach Sam Morreale said he is glad the Huskies are reaching the potential he’s seen in practices.

“I’m extremely excited and pumped,” Morreale said. “We earned every bit of that 195. This is where we deserve to be right now.”

Melendez got the ball rolling for the Huskies with a 9.825 on bars which put her in a three-way tie for first place with Arizona State’s Carissa Kraus and Kristine Levin.

The Sun Devils proved to be too much to keep up with for the Huskies. ASU won every event except for beam; which was tied at 48.875.

Beam was the Huskies’ best event with all five qualifying scores at a 9.725 or higher. Olsen led the team in scoring with a 9.85, which wasn’t good enough to put her in the event’s top three.

Senior Kim Gotlund put up her highest all-around score of the season with a 39.075, which her season high and fifth highest all-around score in the MAC.

Morreale said the Huskies have found their form at the right time, with back-to-back 195 team scores, which puts them in a good spot for the MAC Championships behind No. 18 Central Michigan and No. 25 Kent State, who both regularly score 195.

“We’re going according to plan, getting ready for the MAC Championships,” Morreale said. “It gives us a lot of confidence. There are favorites, but it’s anyone’s game. Those teams are going to have to hit to beat us.”