Despite opening its season with a loss to Kent State, the NIU gymnastics team might be in good shape if its score is any indication.

NIU (0-1, 0-1 overall) will look to follow up its 193.475-192.675 loss as it makes its home debut Sunday against Western Michigan at 2 p.m. at the Convocation Center.

NIU’s debut score of 192.675 is better than any total WMU (2-1, 1-0) has put up this season.

“We’ve really picked up right where we left off last season,” NIU head coach Mark Sontag said. “We’ve done a lot of upgrading in difficulty levels and artistic levels during the summer. It’s like we gave the team a face lift.”

Junior Leah Johnson posted some of the best numbers of her career at Kent State. The Glenbrook South product had an overall score of 38.800, which is the highest mark by a league gymnast this season.

That performance earned her MAC gymnast of the week honors.

WMU’s Courtney Lesson is not far behind Johnson. The senior posted a career-high all-around score of 38.600 in the Broncos’ victory over Illinois-Chicago.

“Lesson and Johnson are two of the great all-arounders in the conference,” Sontag said. “Leah has the highest score right now though and she’s certainly able to hold her own over anybody.”

The difference in the meet may come down to NIU freshman Holly Reichard. The newcomer out of Palatine had a strong showing on the bars in her first meet, tying for second place with a score of 9.750.

One of the biggest strengths of the Huskies this season is their depth. Junior Jennifer Naughton and sophomore Natalie Blum fly under the radar but are going to be key gymnasts for NIU this season, Sontag said.

“Jennifer is one of the most artistic gymnasts you’ll see,” he said.