Women's Tennis | 2/17/2017 7:19:00 PM

Florence, S.C.----The 46th-ranked Wingate University Bulldogs rallied back from a 4-2 deficit Friday afternoon, winning the last three singles matches to pick up a 5-4 victory at 18th-ranked Francis Marion University Friday afternoon in NCAA Division II women's tennis action. The Bulldogs improve to 3-0 on the season, while the Patriots fall to 3-1 overall.

Wingate's number two doubles team of juniors Maria Garcia (San Carlos, Venezuela) and Oroma Womeodu (Memphis, Tenn.) notched an 8-6 victory for the Bulldogs. Francis Marion prevailed 8-1 and 8-4 at number one and three doubles to take a 2-1 lead heading to singles play.

The Patriots got the win at number one singles to go up 3-1, but freshman Elena Pellegrini (Livorno, Italy) won 6-1, 6-3 at number three singles to make it 3-2. Francis Marion took a 4-2 advantage with a victory at number four singles, but a 6-0, 4-6, 6-0 win at number two singles from senior Andrea Ternera (Bogota, Colombia) made it 4-3.

Senior Layla Tanik (Raleigh, N.C.) tied the match 4-4 by prevailing 6-2, 6-2 at number six singles for the Bulldogs. Womeodu won the clincher at number five singles. The junior lost the opening set 6-3, but won set two 6-4 to send it to a decisive third set. Womeodu prevailed 7-5 to give Wingate the victory.

The Bulldogs are back in action Sunday, hosting Auburn at Montgomery at 10 a.m.