NORTH DARTMOUTH, Mass.- Senior Becky Bullock (Wrentham, Mass.) broke a 4-4 tie with a 6-4, 7-5 victory over Lauren Donnelly in the decisive match as the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth's women's tennis team defeated host Bridgewater State, 5-4, in a Little East Conference match at the Dr. Henry Rosen Memorial Tennis Courts Saturday.

The Bears (8-3, 5-1) had won at number four and five singles to tie the score at 4-4, and everyone gathered around the final match between Bullock and Donnelly. After Bullock won the first set, Donnelly took a 5-4 lead in the second set before Bullock won the final three games to win the match and clinch the victory. "All the pressure was on Becky," said UMass Dartmouth Head Coach Ralph Perry. "There was a big crowd, and everyone was watching, and she came through to win the match for us."

Bullock and sophomore Amy Lopes (Dartmouth, Mass.) each won twice for the Corsairs. Lopes' 6-2, 6-2 victory over Rachel Elman at number one singles tied the match after the Bears won two of the three doubles matches to take a 2-1 lead. Lopes and Bullock downed Donnelly and Jessica Francis, 8-6, at number one doubles. After Lopes' singles win, freshman Kelsey Grossmann (Holliston, Mass.) downed Francis, 6-2, 6-0 at number three singles and sophomore Blair Dalrymple (North Attleboro, Mass.) defeated Danielle Linscott, 6-2, 6-2, at number six singles to give the Corsairs a 4-2 lead.

"It was a great match," said Perry. "Bridgewater is an excellent team, and it was great to see us come through when the pressure was on and win it."

The Corsairs improved to 9-1 and 6-0 in the Little East Conference with the victory, while the Bears dropped to 8-3 and 5-1 with the defeat. UMass Dartmouth will return to action when they visit Rhode Island College next Saturday.  

UMass Dartmouth 5, Bridgewater State 4
Oct 04, 2008 at Bridgewater, Mass. (Dr. Henry Rosen Memorial Tennis Courts)

Singles competition

1. Amy Lopes (UMD) def. Rachel Elman (BSC) 6-2, 6-2
2. Becky Bullock (UMD) def. Lauren Donnelly (BSC) 6-4, 7-5
3. Kelsey Grossmann (UMD) def. Jessica Francis (BSC) 6-2, 6-0
4. Catarina Rosa (BSC) def. Allison DeAngelis (UMD) 6-4, 6-0
5. Paulina Ucher (BSC) def. Alexa Fiorita (UMD) 6-4, 6-4
6. Blair Dalrymple (UMD) def. Danielle Linscott (BSC) 6-2, 6-2

Doubles competition

1. Amy Lopes/Becky Bullock (UMD) def. Lauren Donnelly/Jessica Francis (BSC) 8-6
2. Rachel Elman/Paulina Ucher (BSC) def. Kelsey Grossmann/Alexa Fiorita (UMD) 8-4
3. Catarina Rosa/Paula Araujo (BSC) def. Allison DeAngelis/Blair Dalrymple (UMD) 9-7

Match Notes

UMass Dartmouth 9-1, 6-0 LEC
Bridgewater State 8-3, 5-1 LEC
T-3:30 A-150