Lady Braves Rally Back To Beat North Georgia 5-4

PEMBROKE – The UNCP Lady Braves rallied back in singles play by winning all but one match after North Georgia took all three doubles matches to win 5-4 on Saturday afternoon at UNCP Varsity Tennis Courts. 

The Lady Saints (7-15, 1-9 PBC) took a 3-0 lead going into singles play after sweeping the Lady Braves (11-12, 2-9) in doubles play. Mia Winterbottom and Hannah Herlocker were defeated at No. 1 doubles by Natalia Escobar and Juliana Chiang 8-3, while Audrey Marlette and Jordan Poole upended Leigh-Anne McAfee and Shelby Bickel 8-6 on court No. 2. Madeline DiNunzio and Monica Espitia lost in a close match, 9-7, against Maria Romero and Nela Handac in No. 3 doubles. 

Bickel allowed only two games against Poole 6-2, 6-0 at No. 4 singles, before Herlocker captured the second win for the Lady Braves 6-3, 6-0 on court No. 3 to make the score 3-2. McAfee then tied the score 3-3 with a 6-4, 6-2 win over Chiang in No. 2 singles. Handac took the first game over DiNunzio, 6-4, although DiNunzio won the second and third set 6-1, 6-1 to seal the victory on court No. 5. Winterbottom lost the first set at No. 1 singles, 6-4, against Escobar and then won the second set 7-6 (7-1) and lost the third set 7-6 (8-6) making the score 4-4.

Espitia captured the winning point for the Lady Braves with a 6-4, 6-3 win over Romero at No. 6 singles to seal the victory for UNCP. 

The Lady Braves will return to action on Sunday to take on Clayton State (7-11, 6-5) at UNCP Varsity Tennis Courts. Match time is slated for 10 a.m.