A trio of NIU gymnasts have led the way for Mark Sontag and Co., and that trio did the same in the Huskies’ 195.850-192.975 loss to No. 18 Minnesota on Saturday night.

Holly Reichard, Natalie Blum and Jennifer Naughton led the charge for the Huskies, but three falls on the balance beam cost the Huskies from rebounding after a loss to Kent State.

Blum placed second on the vault with a score of 9.825 and placed fifth on the floor with a 9.700. Reichard posted a 38.950 on the all-around, a 9.750 on the floor to finish third and a 9.775 on the vault to finish fifth.

Naughton took fourth in the vault with a 9.800 and was sixth on the beam with a 9.775 and on the floor with a 9.675.

“Natalie Blum really did a great job for us today,” Sontag said. “She had a really good day as did Jen Naughton. Holly went 38.95, and that score should have been higher, but she didn’t get credit for one element on floor exercise. We had some good production from some of our key people, just not enough.”

Freshman Ashley Guerra scored a career high, leading NIU on the uneven bars with a 9.775.

“I wanted us to see and hopefully learn how to handle this type of atmosphere,” Sontag said. “Our youngsters have now been there and seen this environment and that will help us down the road.”

The Huskies will travel to Kalamazoo, Mich. to face Western Michigan on Monday, March 9 in its final dual meet of the season.

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