Feb. 4, 2005

Greenville, SC - The Furman women's tennis team picked up their first win on this young 2005 season with a 6-1 victory over Houston Friday evening at the Mickel Tennis Center. The win evens the Lady Paladins' record at 1-1 and gives the Cougars their first loss, falling to 1-1.

For the second match in a row Furman took the doubles point with wins from flights 1 and 3. The 40th ranked duo of Mary Neill Hagood and Caroline Bentley eased by Kami Miller and Diana Martin 8-0 and Shannon Moore paired with Lauren Osborne to down Brianna Bateup and Sasha Gumbs 8-2. In the No.2 slot Houston's Biljana Dimovska and Yolandi Terblanche defeated Marti Morris and Jacqueline Eckert 8-2.

Furman jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead when Shannon Moore beat Diana Martin 6-4, 6-0 in the No.2 slot. Houston then pulled within one with Biljana Dimovska's 6-4, 6-4 victory over Mary Neill Hagood in flight one, but could not pull any closer as the Lady Paladins went on the win the last four matches to take the dual 6-1. In the No.3 slot Caroline Bentley defeated Brianna Bateup 6-3, 7-5 and in flight four Marti Morris fought off a first set loss to down Kami Miller 3-6, 6-4, 6-2. In flights five and six Jacqueline Eckert ousted Yolandi Terblanche 7-6(4), 6-4 and Lauren Osborne downed Tiffany McLoughlin 6-3, 6-2.

The Lady Paladins next travel to Auburn, AL on February 12 for a noon matchup against the Tigers.

Singles

1. Biljana Dimovoka (H) def. Mary Neill Hagood (FUR)6-4, 6-4

2. Shannon Moore (FUR) def. Diana Martin (H) 6-4, 6-0

3. Caroline Bentley (FUR) def. Brianna Bateup (H) 6-3, 7-5

4. Marti Morris (FUR) def. Kami Miller (H) 3-6, 6-4, 6-2

5. Jacqueline Eckert (FUR) def. Yolandi Terblanche (H) 7-6(4), 6-4

6. Lauren Osborne (FUR) def. Tiffany McLoughlin (H) 6-3, 6-2

Doubles

1. Bentley/Hagood (FUR) def. Martin/Miller (H) 8-0

2. Dimovska/Terblanche (H) def. Eckert/Morris (FUR) 8-2

3. Moore/Osborne (FUR) def. Bateup/Gumbs (H) 8-2