Women's Tennis | 4/23/2016 2:36:00 PM

Box Score

Brevard, N.C.----The top-seeded and 39th-ranked Wingate University Bulldogs defeated fourth-seeded Newberry College 5-1 in the South Atlantic Conference women's tennis tournament semifinals Saturday morning. Wingate improves to 16-5 overall, advancing to Sunday's championship match. Newberry falls to 16-7 on the season.

Wingate took two out of three in doubles play Saturday, starting with an 8-2 win at three doubles from junior Layla Tanik (Raleigh, N.C.) and freshman Sydney Homan (Huntsville, Ala.). Wingate's number one doubles team of junior Andrea Ternera (Bogota, Colombia) and sophomore Oroma Womeodu (Memphis, Tenn.) prevailed 8-5 to give the Bulldogs a 2-1 lead heading to singles play.

Ternera gave Wingate a 3-1 lead with a 6-2, 6-2 victory at number two singles. Homan put the 'Dogs on the brink with a 6-1, 6-2 win at number six singles. Tanik won the clincher at five singles, prevailing 6-1, 6-3 to put Wingate in the championship match.

Three other matches were going on when Wingate victory was clinched. Freshman Claudia De Andreis (Milan, Italy) won the first set 6-3 at one singles and led 4-2 in the second. Senior Caroline Holland (Spartanburg, S.C.) won her first set 6-1 at four singles and was ahead 4-1 in set two.

Wingate advances to Sunday's SAC championship match to face Queens at 9 a.m. The Bulldogs defeated the Royals 5-4 in the regular season meeting. The six-time-defending regular season champion Bulldogs are looking for a second straight tournament title and fifth in the last six years.